07-08-19 Zoning and Annexation - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF SOUTH BEND ! OFFICE OF THE CLERK Mr. Divita replied, Yes, we think this is an important piece in that puzzle. Committeemember Broden asked, To that end, could you share some information about the incremental group and some of the workshops that have been occurring over time? I think this is a good opportunity to incorporate some education on what has been happening. Mr. Divita replied, Yes, so broadly,the City and some other partners have been working with the Incremental Development Alliance. That is a national level non-profit group that pushes small- scale development, so, especially housing at this kind of scale. I think one (1) of their big pieces is encouraging small-scale developers. So,it's not necessarily someone who is mainly a developer, but someone who may buy the lot next door, fix up a home, or build a home or an accessory dwelling unit.They may only do one(1)or two(2)projects in their lifetime.That group has worked with the City on the Zoning Ordinance to make sure it's easy to do those kinds of building projects. Also, they work with the universe of small-scale developers in and around South Bend including the zoning realm, the financing realm and the building programming realms. Certainly, the SF- Three(3)proposal in front of you now is consistent with their recommendations for what is needed in the City. Vice Committee Chair Voorde then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. Brian McMorrow, 105 East Grove Street, stated, As I did at the Area Plan Commission, I'm speaking on behalf of the Home Builders Association of St. Joseph Valley. We came to that public meeting at the Area Plan Commission a few weeks ago with a couple of questions. They were answered by the presentation, much like you heard today and we offered our support to the ordinance as drafted. I wanted to reiterate that again tonight. Thank you. Alan Larkin, 1016 West Washington Street, stated, I've been involved for a number of years in developing properties in the near west. I own one (1) of the old Studebaker mansions on West Washington Street near Tippecanoe Place. And, I own my personal residence which is two (2) blocks west of there. An observation about our neighborhood is that we are a neighborhood of many large historical homes,but I don't think a number of them would be there today had they not been used for a period of time as multi-residential properties. I could mention here, specifically, the Frank Lloyd Wright house which, for a long time was the Avalon Grotto, a group of people organized fish fries. Then there were a number of homes in the area that were run as rental units. I bring this forward simply because if those properties had not been able to do that,they might not be here today. Nothing could have forestalled much of the destruction that has happened to the inner City after the collapse of Studebaker and loss of many large industrial plants. So, the City was simply not prepared to deal with that, and it put all of our housing stock at risk. In the neighborhood close by where I live, almost half of the buildings seem to be gone. There are just large swaths of vacant land. I bought a house in this neighborhood. Walking through my neighborhood and meeting my neighbors, I was informed that many of the houses that were in the neighborhood were for sale only a couple of years ago for$15,000 or even$10,000 in some cases. These are houses that, if we were to build them today, would be much more expensive that are on the market currently for $10,000 to $20,000 now. This kind of ordinance may actually be very helpful to begin the process of doing infill in this neighborhood, where so many of these lots are currently vacant. I've seen it and support this particular process. I know there are some problems EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building',227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 vvww.southbendin.gov 6