08-29-77 Council Meeting Minutes

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1' REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 29 1977 REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED (CONTINUED 9. That in order to implement and facilitate the effectuation of the Urban Renewal Plan, as amended, and said.revisions and plan changes hereby approved, it is found and determined that certain official action must be taken by this Governing Body with re- ference, among other things, to changes in zoning, the vacating and removal of streets, alleys, and other public ways, the establishment of new street patterns, the location and relocation of.sewer and water mains and other public facilities, and other public action, and accordingly, this Body hereby (a) pledges its cooperation in helping to carry out such Urban Renewal Plan as amended by those certain pages presented at this meeting; (b) request the various officials, departments, boards, and agencies of the City having administrative responsibilities in the premises likewise to cooperate to such end and to exercise their respective functions and powers in a manner consistent with said Urban Renewal Plan, as amended, and by those certain pages presented at this meeting; and (c) stands ready to consider and take appropriate action upon proposals and measures designed to effectuate said Urban Renewal Plan, as amended, and by those certain pages presented at this meeting. 10. That additional financial assistance under the provisions of Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, may be necessary to enable the land in the Project Area to be renewed in accordance with the Urban Renewal Plan, as amended, and said revisions and plan changes for the Project Area and, accordingly, the filing by the Local Public Agency of an application or applications forsuch financial assistance under said Title I is hereby approved. 11. Redevelopment shall submit to the Common Council for approval, a detailed listing of the expenditure of any grant money received for expenditure in the project area. /s /Roger 0. Parent Member of the Common Council A public hearing was held at this time on the resolution. Mayor Peter J. Nemeth, said this resolution approves the urban renewal plan for the Century Mall. He said the assessed valuation of the downtown area has increased, with the new construction that has taken place. He said we have had some flight from the City, as retailers have been heading to the suburbs. He read a list of all of the retail stores that have left the downtown area. He said Urban Observatory did a study which revealed that 76.50 of the people in South Bend think an attractive downtown is important; 87% agree that downtown South Bend needs new businesses. He said national firms are not interested in downtowns. He said parking and lack of stores were the two reasons people would not come downtown. He indicated that retailers do not want to come downtown, they will come if you offer competative rates. He said in regard to the proposed Century Mall the-City would provide the common area, make the,site ready and provide parking. He said the developers have indicated they would like seven hundred parking spaces. He said he felt that the fact that local people were willing to invest their own money in our downtown was a credit to the City. He said this development would create 270 jobs in the mall. He said the assessed valuation of all properties, excluding the Sherland Building and the City parking garage, is $711,320, which bring in an annual revenue of $66,470. The private investment is at least 4.5 million, which is double the assessment._ - Ms. Barbara Schankerman, 1615 Rockne Dr., presented a petition with approximately 450 signatures against the needless demolition and for the preservation of the Odd Fellows Building. She then read a four page statement regarding this proposed project. Mr. Joseph D. Anderson, attorney, and partner in the 104 S. Main Street Venture, the owners of the Odd Fellows Building, indicated that when they purchased this building it was lauded as an ex- pression of confidence in the downtown area. He said before they purchased the building they made sure it was not on the R66 acquisition list. He said they are not selling this building. He said this matter will be tied up in the courts for an infinity. Mr. Chris Overguaard, 1958 Briarway, indicated that he was a tenant in the Odd Fellows Building and it did not make good sense to tear down a sound building. Mrs. Jane Swan, 2022 Swygart, indicated she would like to know if a letter of intent was binding. She said she would like to know what commitment.the. City will have to make to the developers. She indicated that the resolution stated that the buildings in the proposed area were substandard. She asked if the City was allowing substandard buildings to remain, and if so, the City has been shirking its responsibilities. Mr. Douglas Kline, 63551 Miami Road, President of Powers Drugs, indicated he did not appreciate receiving information that his .store was to be torn down, through the newspaper. He said he was never contacted to be a part of the mall. He asked where these stores will go if they have to be relocated. Mr. Edgar Wertheimer, of Newman's, indicated he did not challenge the concept of the mall, but he thought the merchants should have some protection. Mr. Richard Doyle, 720 Park Avenue, an attorney in the Odd Fellows Building, as well as a State Representative, indicat, he believed this program to be fundamentally unsound to the City. Council Member Kopczynski made a motion to recess, seconded by Council Member Adams. The motion carried and the meeting was recessed at 8:25 p.m., and reconvended at 8:36 p.m. Mrs. Edith Hawley, owner of Jefferson Book Store, spoke against the mall. She indicated she had not been approached by the developers to go into the Mall. Mr. Kenneth Peczkowski, owner of Griffon Book Store, spoke against the proposed mall. He indicated that none of the small busine have been contacted. He indicated that other countries have discovered that business can operat from old buildings and it is not necessary to have a controlled atmosphere. Mr. T. Brooks - Brademas, 1614 Devon Circle, spoke againstthe Century Mall. He indicated that high -rise buildin should be put downtown to make better use of the land. He indicated he had successfully develop a thriving mall in old buildings. Ms. Patricia Hughes, 1714 E. LaSalle, manager of Lane Bryant store, indicated she was concerned about the small business.. She urged the Council to think thi matter over very carefully. Mrs. Angela Berg, 1730 Stocker Place, indicated serious thought should be given to the renovation of existing buildings. Council President Parent indicated he did not adhere to the policy of tearing down. He said the City was at the end process of a policy of tearing down without any kind of commitment. He said the Council wasnot being asked tonight to tear down any business. He said they were being asked to give their approval to continue working on the idea of Century Mall. Council Member Miller indicated the Council-__and the Administration does not have all of the answers, but they have to proceed with some plan for the downtown area. He said he strongly supported the affect expressed in this resolution. Council Member Dombrowski indicated that approval of this resolution was to only obtain Federal funds from HUD for continuation of downtown redevelopment and this does not commit the approval ;ses s d