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CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – July 24, 2025 <br /> <br />6 <br /> <br />Community Impact: <br />This development will transform currently vacant land into quality <br />affordable housing, increasing local housing capacity and providing on- <br />site supportive services for residents. <br /> <br />Marco Mariani, Executive Director of the South Bend Heritage <br />Foundation, stated we’re incredibly grateful to South Bend <br />Heritage and the Board for supporting this effort. Our work on the Low <br />Barrier Intake Center and this broader project began in 2022–2023, in <br />partnership with Motels4Now. Through the Corporation for Supportive <br />Housing’s Institute, we developed a plan to expand permanent <br />supportive housing. This included forming a team with the City, <br />Oaklawn, the Health Department, and others to create a Gateway <br />Center and more affordable housing. The current plan includes 16 <br />buildings—10 units for permanent supportive housing and the rest for <br />households earning 30–60% of the area median income. South Bend <br />Heritage Foundation will own, develop, and manage the site. He stated <br />they have a letter of intent from National Equity Fund as our equity <br />partner and are working with Merchants Capital on construction <br />financing. While most developers would limit the number of buildings to <br />cut costs, we’re committed to building a full neighborhood—because <br />it’s worth the investment to create a place people truly want to live. <br /> <br />Mr. Mariani explained that the state received about 60 applications this <br />year and will likely fund 17–19. We’re in a separate set-aside category, <br />the Housing First Integrated Housing Set-Aside, thanks to our <br />participation in the Institute and strong team collaboration. We may <br />face competition from a few similar projects, but our chances are <br />strong. We have a great track record with IHCDA and a growing <br />portfolio of over 500 rental units—larger than the Housing Authority’s. <br />If awarded in November, we’ll move into construction planning and aim <br />to break ground by early summer 2026. The City is expected to help <br />with infrastructure, estimated at $3–4 million. <br /> <br />Secretary Wax asked about the purchase price for the entire parcel <br />and Mr. Molnar stated the total was $800,000. Commissioner Gooden- <br />Rodgers asked if there were plans for a picnic/playground area for <br />families and children. Mr. Mariani responded that we already have <br />something similar on West Washington with playground equipment, it’s <br />costly, but doable. I’m glad you brought it up, because while there’s a <br />park near our South Dry City Park development, there’s currently <br />nothing active or engaging in place there. This could be a great <br />opportunity to change that. <br /> <br />