2 Minutes 06-16-13 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting —June 26, 2013 6. NEW BUSINESS E. Northeast Neighborhood Development Area (1) continued... A strong Hill Street will strengthen the surrounding streets and encourage development on adjacent private vacant lots and renovations to existing houses. Staff requests approval of the project budget from the NNDA TIF and Resolution No.3146 (Hill St. Improvements). Mr. Pat Lynch from South Bend Heritage Foundation noted that on the Hill St. Improvement Project there are five houses that are being completed with NSP funds. Two still need some landscaping, but the remaining three are finished. This represents $Imillion of investment. The funds that are being requested are for the public right -of -way improvements along the front of the development South Bend Heritage is doing. Hill St. was selected for the project because it was a soft area between what's going on at Notre Dame and just down the hill with Oaklawn. We hope it will generate additional development and investment around that area. The most critical element that is needed is to pave the alley on the west side, which Engineering is calling a paper alley. There is no gravel, just shrubs and grass. We've decided in our development to do rear loaded attached garages. As of right now there are driveways that run into the paper alley. The title company and lenders loaning private individuals the money to buy these houses are asking South Bend Heritage to pave the paper alley. Outside of the alleys we are doing general curb and sidewalk improvement. Not every curb and sidewalk needs to be replaced, but some areas on the street have decay and detriment, such as old, large stumps which need to be removed. On Kalorama St., there was at one time a leg that went to the bluff which has been vacated. It is no longer a street, the paving is still there and there is no sewer lateral. It is a buildable lot, but we want to make it more attractive. Ms. Schey asked with the city Sidewalk and Curb program there are people in house that do the sidewalks and curbs that is done for the costs savings. With a project like this, can the city bid on this, knowing that they are able to do the work, for the residents rather than outsourcing it? Mr. Kam responded that Public Works has a small budget for this program which is a 50/50 partnership of residents throughout the city. The city cannot bid on this. The scope of this is much larger than curb and sidewalks, there are alleys, and brush removal as well. This is in the Northeast Neighborhood Development Area TIF. Mr. Relos noted that the Sidewalk and Curb program is booked through this year and maybe next year. Ms. Schey noted that it is the city's policy that they don't pave alleys. Mr. Kain responded that in existing neighborhoods that is the policy of the city; however this is creating a new neighborhood, similar to the Triangle neighborhood, where the porches are in the front and vehicles in the back. To facilitate this type of development, the alley needs to be paved. Most of the existing residential homes in the city have access through their front streets.