11-14-05 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETINGNOVEMBER 14, 2005 is the corridor on West Washington Street simply is not a distinctly Single-Family section. There is a great deal of zoning diversity, with a large multi family zone just a few doors away and with several multi-use buildings. The beautiful exterior and garden added to the residential character and value of the corridor. By any standard, the home located at 1126 is one of the most aesthetically pleasing properties in the area. The Catholic Worker was designed to create a home like environment and 1126 West Washington is just that a home not some big shelter. There are a large number of empty houses, buildings and lots (8 houses, and 3 lots right near the 1126 property) and upwards of 50 empty houses in the vicinity. Many other properties have rapid turnover of tenants. In this context, the Catholic Worker Home provides the much-needed stability in the area. The presence and commitment to good values is a deterrent to crime. For example, the large abandoned house right across the street from 1126 might well have become a crack house were it not for the Catholic Worker Home oversight and presence nearby. The Catholic Worker Home has the support of more than 100 of its closest neighbors, especially from the couple and the family who are in fact the two closest neighbors. Most of those who oppose live several blocks away, and almost none in that group has actually spent time at the Catholic Worker Home to see what life is really like. Accordance with City Plan, the Catholic Worker Home’s proposal serves the Plan’s goals of neighborhoods that offer diverse housing choices that promote philanthropy and volunteerism. Further, the ideas of the New Urbanism suggest that vibrant urban community need zoning diversity, not monolithic codes that lack flexibility. There would be no issued of setting precedence. The rezoning process is case by case. By supporting the rezoning, it brings no obligation to support other rezoning cases. The Catholic Worker Home is willing to set commitments and abide by them fully. If the Catholic Worker Home were to sell, it would rezone the home back to single-family zoning. Other commitments that the Catholic Worker Home is willing to agree to are to keep the number of guest and staff to the recommended number. In the end, the Catholic Worker Home is willing to make commitments in writing and would like to work together as good neighbors. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. James Ludwig, 925 W. Washington Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he took the time to get to know the people at Catholic Worker Home and feels that they are a great asset to the neighborhood. Father Christopher Cox, Pastor, St. Adalberts Catholic Church and St. Casimir’s Catholic Church, 2420 W. Huron Street, South Bend, Indiana stated that there are five main concerns regarding this rezoning. Father Chris stated that first, there is clearly mixed use zoning in the neighborhood with the Hansel Center and the Natatorium and a roofing business all in the same block. Second, the Catholic Worker Home is committed to a strong work ethic. Thirdly, the St. Augustine Parish that is just down the street from the Catholic Worker Home houses the Christ Child Society and provides a soup kitchen. Fourth, the west side is home to many Latino families. The Catholic Worker Home has a fluent Spanish speaking staff. And, finally the fifth and most important issue of the Catholic Worker Home is that it is just that a home not an institution. Mr. Gordon Berry, 917 W. Washington Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that there seems to be a paranoia growing on the near west side of South Bend. Connie Blair exaggerates when she says that the near west side “neighborhood has been ripped apart to a degree that’s incomprehensible” (SB Tribune, 21 Oct 2005) by the controversy over the rezoning of the Catholic Worker House (CWH) at 1126 W. Washington in South Bend. The paranoia stems primarily from people who live far from the CWH, while people who live closer acknowledge that the Catholic Worker House is a source of strength for the neighborhood. Mr. Berry stated that he respects the hard work and calming influence of Jeff Gibney and his South Bend Heritage Foundation for their good work (SB Tribune, 12 Oct 2005), I submit that in this case they are looking backwards to an out-of-date (by 14 years), outmoded, plan that fails the neighborhood particularly in the 1100 block of West Washington. As a resident of the 900 block of West Washington for 10 years, he has seen the steady deterioration of the 1100 block; 3 empty institutional buildings the empty Natatorium, the empty and greatly deteriorated mortuary, and the empty Hansel 11