09-28-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING September 28, 2015 This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of: Jason Banicki-Critchlow 3822 W Ford St- This is obviously a piece of property we’ve all talked about more than a few times at Council meetings. Anytime your prime real estate you’re most visible piece sits vacant and empty it says a lot about the City. It says even more when we can quickly turn it around and turn it into a very large project. It will add to the excitement downtown and add to functionality. We got improvements at the Century Center and we have other hotels running. We know what we need to do is get some of the bigger conventions that help bring dollars to restaurants, stores, gas stations that is exciting to see. From an architectural stand point I think it is a beautiful building. I think it has the opportunity to change the tone of South Bend. We’ve been a 1940-50s style town, brick and drab and concrete. I think this is something we all need to be in favor of. Christopher Barth, 236 Tatty St. - Given the 30 million dollar investment into the property. I want to express my support for these three (3) tax abatements. The project reflects a significant need for investment to an iconic property in our community. The renovation is going to assist in attracting conventions to our area. I think I heard that we could have put on two-hundred and fifty (250) RFPs if we had and this particular hotel, along with the double tree, and the proposed other hotel downtown. Office rates are going to probably go up downtown with no more offices available in this building, rates will go up in other high Class A properties in town which is also good for the economy. I urge you guys to support this. In opposition to this bill: seeing none. Councilmember White made a motion to adopt Resolution 15-89. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried and the Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of seven (7) ayes. Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to adopt Resolution 15-90. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried and the Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of seven (7) ayes. Councilmember White made a motion to adopt Resolution 15-91. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried and the Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of seven (7) ayes. 15-92 A RESOLUTION approving the purchase of real estate property located at 2401 W. Western Ave Councilmember Gavin Ferlic Chairperson, Community Investment Committee, reported that they met this afternoon on this resolution and due to a lack of quorum there is no recommendation. th Presenter: Jitin Kain, Department of Community Investment, Offices on the 14 floor – This resolution is seeking to purchase this property on Western Ave. and Olive Street with the intention of increasing the safety at the intersection. As you are aware this is an intersection that has some issues with turning radii. The Polish National Building Association is consistently hit with large trucks moving west. A number of the land uses on Olive have a high usage of trucks and so the intersection does its fair share. We have looked at improving the intersection in the past. In 2009, about five (5) feet of right-of-way was purchased from the PNA building trying to expand the intersection which had some limited success but has still not changed the truck movements as you can see from the image and recent damage to buildings from large trucks. We also looked at changing the left turn bars so there is more room for the trucks and still had limited success. The analysis from our Engineering Department says the turning radius should 39