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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Office of the Mayor <br /> <br />NEWS RELEASE <br />October 20, 2008 <br />Noon <br /> <br />New specialist will promote South Bend neighborhoods <br /> <br />Contact: <br />Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564 <br /> <br />or Sue Solmos, Residential Marketing Specialist, 235-9660 <br /> <br /> <br />For the first time, the City of South Bend will take a more active role in the residential <br />housing market, creating a new initiative to market residential neighborhoods and staffing <br />that effort with a veteran real-estate agent with similar experience in Indianapolis. <br /> <br />Sue Solmos, a real-estate agent and community activist with national recognition for her <br />public-private efforts in Indianapolis, began this fall as residential marketing specialist in <br />the Department of Community and Economic Development. In that role, Solmos will <br />work to market all city neighborhoods, though her initial efforts will focus on near- <br />downtown residential areas. <br /> <br />The new position addresses several housing-related objectives identified in City Plan, <br />South Bend’s 20-year comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2006 after strong <br />community participation. They include: <br />? <br />Increase the marketability of South Bend’s neighborhoods. <br />? <br />Promote homeownership within city limits. <br />? <br />Strive for livable, mixed-income neighborhoods that collectively reflect the diversity <br />of income levels of the region. <br /> <br />“At a time when many Americans cannot afford to own a home, we want to put out the <br />welcome mat to demonstrate the great value of housing in South Bend. We believe <br />homebuyers will find a market that offers appealing neighborhoods with diverse housing <br />choices,” said Mayor Stephen J. Luecke. “Sue will work in partnership with real-estate <br />agents and businesses in promoting the range of quality housing options available in <br />South Bend to newcomers as well as to area residents who may not have known South <br />Bend’s great options before settling for homes that did not satisfy their original needs.” <br /> <br />