12-13-2011 Plan will refresh medical campus, downtown gateway

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• The widening and enhancement of Bartlett Street between Michigan and Main streets, leading to Memorial's main entrance, with reconfigured parking lots to the north. With TIF funding through the Redevelopment Commission,the City's Board of Public Works manages the improvements, hiring private contractors to perform the work. Funds for TIF investments accrue over a period of years from property taxes generated within that district. The growth in taxes resulting from new economic development is used for reinvestment in further redevelopment efforts. "The infrastructure improvements around Memorial and the surrounding medical TIF district support easy, convenient and inviting access for the patients and visitors to the hospital and other surrounding medical facilities," Jeff Costello, Memorial's chief financial officer, told South Bend ON,the City's e-mail newsletter. "The physical appearance of our facilities and the neighboring areas also plays an important part in our ability to recruit and retain the best medical providers from around the country. Professional, attractive facilities—combined with world-class healthcare providers -- contribute to the high quality of care we provide." "People probably don't realize that Memorial gets 2,000 to 3,000 daily visitors that visit the campus. So when road projects or new paving projects happen, that helps the entire city and its traffic flow initiatives,"Memorial CEO Phil Newbold told South Bend ON. "Not many people realize that Memorial Hospital is located in what is called the medical TIF. So many of our projects have been greatly supported by the utilization of TIF funds. Another little known fact is that Memorial Hospital does pay some property taxes on all the land it owns. We believe it is not only important for us to do so, but if we want to see this community grow, our tax dollars helps the redistribution of funds, and helps support other key infrastructure projects that will help this hospital and community grow. TIF, as it relates to the hospital and city, has helped job creation, property tax revenues, infrastructure improvements and physician growth. Our hospital area can be a talent recruitment tool."