03-26-01 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 26.2001 Twyckenham. Ms. Harrington stated that she personally is opposed to the renovation plan as it is ill planned, costly and disruptive. Ms. Harrington informed the Council that they all received a copy of her letter concerning the park and she is against giving away park land. She is for green space and is against specializing any of the remaining green space at the park. The unspecialized green space at the park is a wonderful open multi - functional area and is used for many activities. The park is for all the citizens of the South Bend community. Ms. Harrington further stated that walkway security is a concern of hers and she also inquired who will plow it in the winter. Mr. Bob Rowland, 629 East Riverside, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in regards to the land use study by the school corporation. He also reviewed the amount of money that will be spent on athletics and for academics which include a new cafeteria, an auditorium and in- school detention areas. He stated that there is no academic improvement. Mr. Rowland stated that deciding on the Adams expansion is immature and that the long term use of the building must be looked at. When that is known they can quickly undertake a logical land use plan with alternatives. Ms. Diane Gleason Wright, 1540 Hoover Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, indicated that she is opposed to this vacation and the use of space at Potawatomi Park. She stated that Potawatomi Park is a valuable open space which enhances the lives of all the residents of South Bend and not just the neighborhood and it should be protected and not given away. Open space that currently exists at the park should be preserved for the expansion of current park functions such as Kids Kingdom, the Conservatory, the zoo and for open space in general. Giving over one half (' /z) acre of land for a track and football field and the sharing of even more space, contributes to the eradication of any open space that is in the park. The sharing aspect indicates that everyone wins. According to her understanding of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Park Department the school has priority over the general public. The school will be using the space at the same time the public will want to use them. The concept of sharing is well and good but the reality is one in which the taxpayers and the citizens of South Bend are unable to utilize the facilities when they most need them. Ms. Wright stated that she wholeheartedly supports the improvement of the school and doesn't want her opposition to the closing of Greenlawn to be construed as opposition to the renovation of the high school. She stated that the closing is not necessary and is not necessary to achieve academic improvements. Mr. Phil Suphal, 1232 Oakland Street, #16, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he has been following this issue and has been to a couple of meetings. He stated that he disagrees with the statement that there has been plenty of notice for this particular proposal. He further noted that he does not wish to speak to whether facilities are needed or the benefits of athletic facilities or whether Adams should be renovated but wants to speak to the proposal that Greenlawn be closed. Mr. Suphal stated that he lives in the area and is concerned about the traffic issue that he did not hear addressed at the one meeting that was held at the high school. The traffic on Mishawaka Avenue will increase greatly even though there is a pedestrian crossing and the speed of the traffic in front of IUSB will increase. All streets between Twyckenham and Greenlawn which are residential that are not currently being used as shortcuts will be used especially when traffic ties up at Twyckenham and Jefferson. He noted that a lot of people coming to IUSB or the park don't know the area and with this closing it will hinder someone getting back to the park or wherever they intended to go in the area. He stated that the Council should not vote on this matter today but should close that section of Greenlawn for a short period of time to see how people adjust and what happens. Mr. Suphal also wanted some extra assurances that people will be welcome to use the share facilities and asked how residents would know when they could use those facilities. Ms. Doris Tucker, 1213 South 32nd Street, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that this prof ect has been fast tracked and not given the proper study and impact on the neighborhood and the whole City and surrounding areas. Ms. Tucker noted that she uses Greenlawn a lot because her mother lives on Wall Street. One of the problems they have experienced was snow removal and she is concerned what closing Greenlawn is going to do to snow removal. The traffic volume and flow currently on Wall Street has not had sufficient study. The traffic flow right now is bad and in the afternoon when the students are getting out of school it is extremely difficult to try to get into her mother's driveway. She asked what it will be like when the amount of traffic is tripled because of the parking on Wall Street. The closing of a portion of Greenlawn takes away the parking on Greenlawn, taking away that access for people to flow in and around a public space. With the