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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 27, 2011 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Marty Harshman, 1524 E. Madison, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he works at St. Joe <br />High School as an Assistant Principal. He stated that he is very excited about this project <br />both as a member of the St. Joe High School Community as well as a member of the <br />South Bend Community. He stated that he has seen first hand how hard it has been for <br />Catholic Education Institutions to stay open in urban settings. He stated that he has seen <br />the struggle for Catholic Schools to relocate in urban settings as opposed to moving <br />outside of the city limits. He stated that we have seen that with other organizations <br />leaving the downtown area and relocating to other communities. He stated that the term <br />public benefits have come up tonight which a very fair topic to be discussed is. He stated <br />that he has two that he would like to talk about tonight in regard to public benefit. He <br />stated that the first one comes with some trust and hope in that if they do build new here <br />that it will spawn new development and help the area to attract new businesses. He stated <br />based upon 900 students and their families coming to school on a daily basis. He stated <br />that there will be additional people coming when there are various activities such as <br />sporting competitions and what that will lead to as a return in tax dollars by other <br />businesses possibly locating in this area. He stated that as a resident of South Bend he <br />believes that this development is best for the area. He stated that his second example of <br />public benefit it what is currently going on between St. Joe and the Community. He <br />stated that he was at basketball camp and there were about 145 children enrolled this <br />week and for all of the camps that the school has this summer there are well over 700 <br />children actively participating at their facility for all over the community, both private <br />and public school children. He stated that they have a great partnership will all the <br />schools in the community. Mr. Harshman stated so that when it comes to public benefit <br />between St. Joe and South Bend it is already happening. This is just an opportunity to <br />increase that public benefit. He urged the Council to consider this project favorably so <br />that this partnership can grow even stronger. <br /> <br />Robert Urbanski, 21533 Goldenmaple Ct., South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is here <br />tonight to speak favorably for this project for several reasons. First, as a former business <br />owner and a current owner of development land, South Bend needs to move forward and <br />progress with new businesses for growth and development. He stated that here we have a <br />local business, a school, private although it may be, willing to take on some vacant land, <br />unlike some of the former Studebaker Site land that is sitting idle. He stated that St. Joe <br />High School is going to develop this land that was once occupied by St. Joe Hospital and <br />build a thriving high school on it. He stated that he is on the building committee for the <br />high school and there was never once discussion on building outside of South Bend. <br />Even though there is land that is owned by the school outside of the city limits, they <br />wanted to build in downtown South Bend. He stated this is just like project on the West <br />Side of South Bend the Kroc Center project that the city helped with financing. He stated <br />that the Kroc Center is good for the community just like this project is. He stated that he <br />nd <br />owns a building in the 2 District that houses two restaurants. He stated that those two <br />owners of those restaurants are happy to see a development like St. Joseph High School, <br />who will have adults, parents, etc. who will after school events, sporting events, etc. want <br />to come downtown to eat and spend money downtown and help downtown become a <br />livelier place to live. He stated that he believes in this community and is tired of reading <br />articles in the newspaper written by people who live outside of the city in Granger, <br />Mishawaka, Osceola, telling people in South Bend what they should do in our city. Mr. <br />Urbanski stated that he trusts the Council decision and appreciates all their hard work in <br />making decisions everyday for our community. He urged the Council’s favorable <br />support. <br /> <br />Tim Maher, Attorney, Barnes & Thornburg, 100 N. Michigan Street, South Bend, <br />Indiana, stated that he is on the School Board for St. Joseph High School. He stated that <br />he is aware of the Council’s concern on the public benefit that the city would get from <br />this project. He stated that from day one what should be considered is a 35 million dollar <br />investment and for jobs for construction workers and supplies who desperately need the <br />st <br />work. He stated that from the 1 day that the school is open the things that will be <br />available to this city are the things that this school has historically provided, such as <br />taxpayers who will give back to this community. He stated that he had made that note <br />before he realized that three members of the Council have connections to St. Joseph High <br />School. He stated that this school has a proven track record of given back to the <br /> 8 <br /> <br />