07/16/07 Council Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING JULY 16, 2007 have been delivered to the Council and to the public in the 11~` hour. Take the next week to really develop them and make sure that they are really specific and to make this project the kind of leadership project that it can be as a national model. He mentioned that LEED Certification is not just about energy efficient light bulbs and insulation in buildings it's a nationally developed standard that is so prevalent now that all new federal buildings that will be constructed from now into the future must be LEED Certified. So a City like South Bend that takes the lead and establishes that standard will stand out in terms of its marketability to citizens in the nation as a leader in energy and environmental design. Mr. Frank Perri, 2016 E. Madison, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he finds himself here tonight very mixed because he is usually on the side of the developer like Kite is. Believing that development is always good for a community, it creates jobs, livelihood, and generally the right way to go. His goal tonight and reason for being here tonight he was torn but also compelled to say a few things personally as a member of this community and a lifelong resident of South Bend. Not so much as a developer with Holladay Properties although they have a large stake and will reference some of things that he is going to say relative to that stake. It comes out to a matter of opinion, and no disrespect to the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Graeves, and everything that has been said tonight. They are an asset to this community and he would be remorse, and have a lotto loose by being here tonight and risking the relationships that they have formed and he has formed with the University and all of the businesses they have. But, 10 or 15 years from now, the effects from this decision will be seen. He urged the Council to watch the scale of the project. His personal belief is that the scale of the project is too large. It can succeed if it were smaller. When Dr. Graeves made the comment that the scale of the project is important and projects fail due to the lack of scale. Mr. Perri stated that he take the position that is the opposite. Those that know the theory of supply and demand would understand that if in fact there were a finite supply there is going to be a great demand there will be improvement. If the development is scaled down on that side of town in the Notre Dame neighborhood it would vastly improve the odds of the downtown receiving benefits. If you make the scale large enough it will potentially retard those demand elements from taking place. They have owned a site in downtown South Bend on the River that they have been holding out for a major development for a long time, and have not been able to get it to the table. There are a couple of reasons for that however, time will not allow that explanation tonight. Mr. Perri urged the Council to think about this project in the context of what the City may look like some years later. This is great for the University, its great for the north side neighborhood, they are all major beneficiaries in this project. He hopes that the neighbors in that area stay and not take the cash because he would like to see the diversity of the neighborhood maintained. He came to talk about the tale of two cities, take on Dickens, tale of two cities, it was the best of cities and the worst of cities, and he doesn't think that those extremes are what he is all about tonight and talking about this project. It is really about trying to understand that have a fine balance is needed. This balance is sometimes very difficult to achieve, it will be fairly easy for Kite to do it in that particular context at the University's doorstep, it is very difficult to do it in the downtown and it is there where he is very concerned. Mr. Perri appreciates the Council taking his comments to heart and hopes that this project is going to be successful in one way, shape or form. He believes in fact given the opportunity to do development at the doorsteps of the University is also the goal of the company that he is actually with He stated that is going to sound like a lot of sour grapes because in fact he knows he is going to be challenged on that when he leaves the meeting tonight and be ridiculed by being here tonight. Mr. Perri reiterated that it is going to be a successful project and it will be great and he only hopes that this community, ten years from now can say that it is true. Some things like Coveleski Stadium might have been unpopular at the time have become an asset. Some things like the College Football Hall of Fame, have not become the asset that was thought it would be. Those are the decisions that have to be made and the Council is responsible for doing just that. Mr. Perri wished the Council well in their endeavors and he urged the Council to make the right decisions. Ms. Jan Seabaugh, 1324 N. St. Joseph Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she appreciates all the talents and commitments of all the neighborhood leaders, Notre Dame, and Kite Realty, to bring this project about. She understands that it has been the dream of 16