11-08-2011 Ignition Park’s expansion passes two-thirds mark

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o45pUT11 I U d { � recce y x x 1865 Office of the Mayor NEWS RELEASE November 8,2011 4 p.m. Ignition Park's expansion passes two-thirds mark Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564 or David Relos, Economic Development Specialist, 235-9371 The City of South Bend is more than two-thirds of the way to acquiring targeted properties for an expansion of Ignition Park by creating a clear boundary along a neighborhood thoroughfare at the technology park's southern edge. Of 150 parcels targeted for acquisition along the north side of Indiana Avenue between Franklin Street and Prairie Avenue,the City has acquired 104 parcels, including one recently purchased at a tax sale in September. Sales of another 29 parcels are in the negotiating process, while 10 parcels have some other status. The remaining seven parcels are railroad-owned. In addition,the project's total acquisition and relocation costs of$2.2 million are 45 percent under the amount budgeted by the Redevelopment Commission—a savings of more than $1.8 million. "This will expand Ignition Park by an additional 23 acres and help stabilize the Rum Village neighborhood to the immediate south," said David Relos, economic development specialist for the City's Department of Community and Economic Development. Additional acquisitions have taken place on Ignition Park's eastern boundary between Franklin and Main streets. Ignition Park, together with the 12-acre Innovation Park next to the University of Notre Dame campus, constitutes South Bend's dual-site, state-certified technology park. Originally designated in 2009 with 83 acres, Ignition Park is being expanded by City planners to incorporate as many as 140 acres of developable land near downtown South Bend.