10-11-71 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING REGULAR MEETING (Cont) COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (Cont.) ORDINANCE (Cont.) OCTOBER 11, 1971 While we support the total bond issue proposal, we feel we are especially com- petent to comment on two specific parts of that proposal. First of all, we consider the preservation of the Morris Civic Auditorium as absolutely essential to the well -being of South Bend. The Auditorium long has been an asset of major importance. It has paid important social, cultural and economic dividends. Investing in new heating, cooling and ventilating facilities will guar- antee the continuation of these dividends. The alternative to this investment is the abandonment and eventual demolition of the Auditorium. Such an alternative is unthinkable to any citizen who takes pride in his community. Secondly, we endorse without reservation the acquisition by the City of the land necessary for a civic center in the downtown area. Acquisition will preserve for public use a priceless section of river frontage. It will provide a new focal point for constructive community activity. It will encourage development of Downtown South Bend and it will provide the setting for an undertaking that can attract favor- able nationwide attention. The Michiana Arts and Sciences Council is so convinced of the importance of the civic center that we have moved ahead with plans for the financing of the initial phases of construction. We have been assured that acquisition of the land by the City will trigger major contributions from private sources. These contributions will enable an early start on the first element in the civic center, a much- needed building for the South Bend Art Center. The Michiana Arts and Sciences Council pledges its total cooperation in the implementation of the civic center project. We are convinced that this project, like every other element in the proposed bond issue, represents responsible pro - "gress that will benefit all of the people of the community for many years to come. Mr. Robert F. McGinty, 56237 Ritschard Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, Executive Secretary of the Industrial Foundation, Inc. and Executive Director of the Industrial Division of the South Bend - Mishawaka Area Chamber of Commerce read the following statement supporting the bond ordinance: " SOUTH BEND- MISHAWAKA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC. to October 11, 1971 A Statement Presented Before The South Bend City Council My name is Robert F. McGinty. I am Executive Secretary of The Industrial Foundation, Inc., and the Executive Director of the Industrial Division of the South Bend - Mishawaka Area Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of more than 2,000 area business and industrial organizations, we urge your support of the bond ordinance in public hearing this evening. Passage of the bond ordinance is essential to the economic welfare and progress of this community. Its defeat would have a serious impact on this community's industrial and economic development efforts in the next decade. Community industrial development agencies have prepared an application for public work funds to complete the $3,674,000 airport industrial park Phase III. Phase III re- presents 289 acres bounded by Lathorp, Bendix and Cleveland Road. This industrial site is paramount to the area's economic development program projected over the next 10 years. The completion of the airport industrial site could assure approximately 50 new busi- nesses, and 6,000 new jobs in local and out -of -state expansion in our community. The Federal Government will assist the Phase III project with a $1,870,000 grant on 50 percent of the total cost of the program. The monies would be used to acquire land, install utilities, roads, and provide rail and grading services, as well as to cover other development costs. In order to obtain the Federal grant and finish the project, the City of South Bend must provide $800,000 as its share, and which is contained in the bond issue proposal. If the ordinance is rejected, Phase III and the economic development progress scheduled over the next 10 years will go down the drain. The community does not have the re- sources to raise the funds which would be provided through Federal grant. Phase III represents the type of industrial site which is in great demand. It will have rail facilities and will provide "front yard" location which 99 out of every 100 new industry prospects demand in this age of sophisticated business expansion plans. At present there are no prime rail site industrial locations available generally. Phase I and Phase II of the industrial park program, or 171 acres, for practical purposes, are occupied to capacity. Phase I was described as having 10 acres remaining unoccupied, but with right of first refusal commitment to an Illinois firm. Phase II has only eight commercial and 10 light industrial acres available. With an upswing in the economy, available Phase II land will disappear quickly. In addition to the City's share of the Phase III funds requested in the bond issue, $150,000 will be invested by the industrial foundation, Inc., with the Chicago, South .Shore and South Bend Railroad participating in an equal $150,000 amount. The indus- trial Foundation also will seek to acquire the balance needed in a Federal loan request "totaling $652,000. It Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, read the follow- ing statement concerning this bond ordinance, urging the Council to proceed cautiously until the master plan for the development of the airport industrial park is approved and to try to help relieve the burden of the property taxpayer. (Statement will be shown on next page) H 1 1