Laserfiche WebLink
South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br /> Regular Meeting—September 13, 2012 <br /> 6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) <br /> F. South Side Development Area <br /> (1) continued... <br /> many pressures on other such neighborhoods. <br /> So planners, who love to move people <br /> around, were attracted to it, I guess, as a <br /> neighborhood needing destruction. <br /> Perhaps the real reason that this is being <br /> suggested is to make a larger area for <br /> commercial development. But that area <br /> includes O'Brien Center and the skate park. <br /> It is much nicer to have them surrounded by <br /> homes and green space, but I wonder if it is <br /> secretly planned for development. Given the <br /> many remaining area along Ireland Road and <br /> around the Showplace 16 Theater, I question <br /> whether such additional space is needed. But <br /> if this is part of the plan, the public should be <br /> informed now. <br /> Beyond South Bend's need to sustain good <br /> neighborhoods like the Fellows-Chippewa <br /> area, the effect of this destruction is a <br /> continuation of the reduction in taxable real <br /> estate for the city. We need these homes on <br /> the tax roll. Look at what is happening to <br /> South Bend's tax base. St. Matthews bought <br /> a whole block of houses and built a parking <br /> lot—no more taxes on that block. IUSB has <br /> bought up some of the nicest home in River <br /> Park and built parking lots. No more taxes <br /> on those blocks. St. Joseph High School got <br /> an extra block of property beyond the former <br /> hospital land and built a parking lot. No <br /> more taxes possible from that block. (And <br /> that land would have made a great place for <br /> condos looking over the city.) Memorial <br /> Hospital is covering over much of the <br /> 45 <br />