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CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – May 14, 2026 <br /> <br />Page | 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Upon a motion by Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers for approval, seconded by <br />David Relos, the motion carried unanimously; the Commission approved <br />the Purchase Agreement as presented on May 14, 2026. <br /> <br />5. Assignment of Indemnity Rights (Oliver Park Site, Lot 7) <br />Sandra Kennedy, Corporation Counsel for the City of South Bend, <br />presented an assignment of environmental indemnity rights related to a <br />former Studebaker site. She provided background on the City’s <br />acquisition and environmental remediation of the Studebaker properties <br />in the 2000s and noted that the City issued indemnities to prior buyers <br />for pre-existing environmental conditions. The site, which includes <br />groundwater monitoring, has been remediated but not yet fully closed. <br /> <br />The original transaction closed in 2009 and allowed for assignment of <br />indemnity rights to future owners until site closure. The current request <br />seeks approval to assign those rights in accordance with the original <br />agreement. Legal counsel has reviewed the document, but the parties to <br />the sale have not yet signed off on it. Ms. Kennedy stated that any <br />material changes to the document will be returned to the Commission <br />for approval. <br /> <br />Vice President Relos asked which parcel is being referenced and who is <br />the current tenant and what is the status of IDEM closure for the site? <br />James Tuesley, with Barnes & Thornburg explained the parcel is the <br />former Underground Pipe and Valve site, which was sold to Ferguson <br />Enterprises in 2016. Ferguson Enterprises continues to lease the <br />property. <br /> <br />President Warner asked what is the status of IDEM closure for the site? <br />Ms. Kennedy stated the IDEM closure is still in progress and is expected <br />to take several more years due to ongoing groundwater monitoring <br />requirements. The City is actively working toward closure. Once closure <br />is achieved, the environmental indemnity will automatically terminate. <br /> <br />Vice President Relos raised a concern regarding the condition of <br />entrance signage and landscaping at a nearby site, noting ongoing <br />maintenance issues and recent damage. Mr. Molnar acknowledged the <br />concern, explaining that maintenance responsibility was intended to fall <br />under a business association that was never formally established. While <br />another entity has been providing some upkeep, staff agreed to review <br />the conditions and follow up as needed. <br />