05-26-09 Community and Economic Developement Development Committee

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~~;~~ ~'~ 'm'w~ ~, L'f~~' <t ~>>~ ~~~~~~'~~ COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MAY 26, 2009 Committee Members Present: Timothy Rouse, Chairperson; Henry Davis, Vice- Chairperson; Ann Puzzello; Karen White; Catherine Andres, Citizen Member Other Council Members Present: Derek Dieter; Tom LaFountain Others Present: Gary Gilot; Rita Kopala; David Relos, Don Inks, Phil Byrd, Allert Brown-Gort; Bill Schalliol Agenda: Bill No. 09-40 -Adds Hansel Center to West Washington-Chapin Development Area. This bill approves the actions by the South Bend Redevelopment Commission and the St. Joseph County Area Plan Commission to add the Hansel Center at 1405 W. Washington to the acquisition list. Chairperson Timothy Rouse opened consideration of the approval request by recognizing Bill Schalliol to make the presentation. He along with David Relos also of the Economic Development Department, Phil Byrd of South Bend Heritage, and Allert Brown-Gort of the Center for Latino Studies at Notre Dame outlined the request proposal. The proposal, as described, would be a joint venture between the City and Notre Dame to acquire the old Hansel Center, re- hab the structure, transfer ownership and maintenance responsibilities to Notre Dame, all to house the Notre Dame Center for Art and Culture. Cost to the city using TIF funds $370,000, additional rehab dollars to be borne by Notre Dame, approximately $1.2 million. Notre Dame would operate the building as a neighborhood and cultural center housing an office of Latino Studies and afine-art print house relocating here from Tempe Arizona. The presenters stated the project would attract permanent jobs, improve the diversity of the economic base, add to a museum/arts district, and attract additional private investment to the neighborhood. Councilmember Henry Davis, representing the 2"d District, home of the project, questioned whether this was the best use of TIF dollars for the neighborhood. His preference would be to use the funds to bring jobs and more assessed value to the area. Councilmember Rouse wonder whether other parties were given access to TIF dollars as was Notre Dame.