12-14-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 14, 2009 Tuesday, November 17, 2009 and sends this bill to the Common Council with a favorable recommendation. Ms. Nayder advised that this adaptive reuse of an existing vacant building will blend in well with the redevelopment that occurred on the west side of High Street. The proposed mix of uses will be an asset to the surrounding neighborhood. Mr. Bill Owen, President, Bosh Design Group, Inc. P. O. Box 322, Osceola, Indiana, made the presentation on behalf of the owner Mr. Rami Sadek co-owner of LangLab LLC.. Mr. Owen advised that the reason for the substitute bill is that his client who was the contingent purchaser is now the owner of the property. Mr. Owen stated that the LangLab concept is to provide an entertainment, education and restaurant venue in South Bend. The establishment will provide a live entertainment venue; a café; office space rental; a retail component; offering arts-based retail merchandise; living quarters for visiting artists and lecturers, and venue rental services for the South Bend area. Rami Sadek, 19543 Darden Road, South Bend, Indiana stated that the best way is to start with the technical aspect of it and it is simply two words. The first is incubator space. He stated that we all have our degrees from around here and we all have jobs from around here and he thought it would be a really good thing for the economy for us to live in a community that allows us to do what our hearts and minds are in. Incubator space came about, to provide a space for local people who have an idea who want to try to do it, but perhaps don’t have the capital or space to do it. They would come in and do what they want to do and if it works. The other word is salvage. If you have something in your hearts and minds you look at it several ways and try to make it better or maybe improvise on it. We are taking something that is already existing and we take it and provide a space for people to come in. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Councilmember Rouse asked Mr. Sadek why it has taken so long for this petition to have a public hearing. Mr. Sadek explained that he wanted to take time and meet with all the various departments and neighbors to make sure that he had all the proper information to go forward. Mr. Sadek also stated that with the downturn in the economy he was unsure of how to approach it. Councilmember Rouse asked Mr. Sadek if he had any conversation with St. Matthew’s Cathedral. Mr. Sadek stated no. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill as substituted. BILL NO. 57-09 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 616 N. ST. PETER ST., COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT 4, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Councilmember Dieter made a motion to have this bill withdrawn at the request of the petitioner. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. 6