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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14,201
<br />bought the property in contrast to the six (6) townhomes he built on the site. The next slide
<br />depicted Matthews' property across the street from the Emporium, before and after construction,
<br />which was a half paved and half gravel parking lot prior to the construction of ten (10)
<br />townhomes there. Mr. Matthews stated that though Matthews LLC is great at celebrating its
<br />successes, this is still a poor neighborhood. Mr. Matthews explained that there are 2100 people,
<br />1200 households who live within a half -mile radius of the site, and that their median yearly
<br />income is $16,000. That is less than $1400 a month for half the households in the neighborhood.
<br />Mr. Matthews stated that his townhomes were the first market -rate residential projects built in
<br />the neighborhood in thirty (30) years. Mr. Matthews stated that the neighborhood was changing,
<br />that he cares about the neighborhood and has chosen it as his home, as have many of those of the
<br />public present in the Council Chamber. Mr. Matthews then presented the site of his proposed
<br />project. Mr. Matthews stated that the parking lot is not currently pedestrian- friendly. At present,
<br />there is 90,000 square feet of leasable office space on about 2.9 acres, with just under 300
<br />parking spaces. The assessment is around $2,000,000 and Matthews pays about $60,000 a year in
<br />property taxes. What is being proposed is a mixed -use building on Sycamore, LaSalle, and the
<br />East Race consisting of a first floor grocery store and pharmacy with a side door deli facing the
<br />East Race, with housing above; it will conceal a parking garage in the middle of the block.
<br />Velvet Canada, Matthews LLC, 401 East Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN, continued the
<br />petitioner's presentation. Ms. Canada summarized the aesthetics of the mixed -use building meant
<br />to occupy four - hundred and eleven (411) feet of pedestrian space: a combination of the
<br />Commerce Center's arches with Chicago -style bay windows, which would bring in light for the
<br />units and allow one to look down Sycamore; a French style for the supermarket entrance, with a
<br />canopy adorned with delicate metalwork and equally delicate balconies where one can look out
<br />onto LaSalle; for the center building —the main portion of the store —a more classical
<br />inspiration, with recessed balconies as well as those protruding onto the street; and an industrial
<br />look toward the East Race, relying on metal and brick construction —this portion of the proposed
<br />building would be right next to the Commerce Center. Ms. Canada showed pictures depicting the
<br />proposed building in- context with the East Bank Flats and other Matthews LLC townhomes. She
<br />also showed what it would look like from the fourteenth (14th) floor of the County -City Building
<br />in context with the rest of the city.
<br />Ms. Canada explained that the building is being proposed at twelve (12) stories, at one - hundred
<br />and sixty -two (162) feet in height, with an overall height of one - hundred and seventy -five (175)
<br />feet to get the elevator and other mechanical features in the building, and a footprint of 32,400
<br />square feet, with a total building area of 387,000 square feet. Estimation of commercial space is
<br />62,000 square feet, with residential estimates at two- hundred and forty (240) apartments, which
<br />would equal twenty -four (24) apartments per floor. The main parking will service the grocery
<br />store, with traffic coming in off LaSalle and Colfax. Main parking will have one - hundred and
<br />twenty -one (121) spaces, with eighty -four (84) covered, and thirty -seven (37) uncovered. The
<br />upper levels will be accessible via speed ramp from Sycamore. It will house spaces for
<br />employees and the current Commerce Center area, as well as the apartments. There will be six -
<br />hundred and twenty -one (621) spaces. A common green space is currently proposed for the roof
<br />deck.
<br />Jonathan Jones, Matthews LLC, 401 East Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN, continued the
<br />petitioner's presentation. Mr. Jones stated that the first questions he is often asked regarding
<br />market -rate demand is whether or not the multi - family construction taking place in the
<br />downtown area is outstripping demand. Mr. Jones contended that the answer to that question was
<br />"No." Mr. Jones stated that to elucidate that answer, he needed to delve more deeply into the
<br />context of the matter at hand. South Bend is the fourth (4th) largest city within the State. It sits at
<br />the center of a multi - county, bi -state region known as Michiana, home to well over 800,000
<br />individuals. If Greater Michiana is accounted for, South Bend is then the cultural and economic
<br />hub of a region of nearly 1,000,000 people. It is within a three (3) hour drive of four (4) major
<br />cities. South Bend is positioned to be a strong economic driver in the State, as well as a great
<br />incubator of business development. Mr. Jones stated that this was not only his view, but that of
<br />the State, as evidenced by the Regional Cities Initiative. Results of an IEDC study —which
<br />sought ways to research successful planning in other regions — reveal that regions that plan
<br />successfully are ideal places for individuals to live, work, and play. These are important
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