05-26-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 26, 2009 Councilmember Dieter made a motion to continue this bill until the June 8, 2009, meeting of the Council and send to the Personnel and Finance and Health and Public Safety Committees. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. BILL NO. 09-40 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROVING AN ORDER OF THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY AREA PLAN COMMISSION APPROVING A CERTAIN DECLARATORY RESOLUTION AND AN AMENDMENT TO THE WEST WASHINGTON-CHAPIN DEVELOPMENT AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN ADOPTED BY THE SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Councilmember Rouse, Chairperson, Community and Economic Development Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with no recommendation. th Bill Schalliol, Division of Economic Development, 12 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Schalliol advised that this resolution would approve a declaratory resolution adopted by the South Bend Redevelopment Commission. He stated that this process began when the South Bend Redevelopment Commission (RDC) conducted a study and determined that it is necessary and beneficial to the orderly redevelopment of the West Washington Chapin Develoment Area (WWCDA) to add the Hansel Center, located at 1045 West Washington Street, to the WWCDA Acquisition List. Mr. Schalliol noted that the Hansel Center is an historic landmark building in the West Washington-Chapin Street National Historic District. It was built in 1925, as a children’s dispensary, and later served as a neighborhood center and as the administrative offices of Head Start. He stated that a proposed joint venture between the City of South Bend and the University of Notre Dame would rehabilitate the building to house the Notre Dame Center for Art and Culture. The Institute for Latino Studies and Segura Publishing, a fine art print house which would relocate from Tempe, Arizona, would support numerous print and arts related community and university projects. Mr. Allert Brown-Gort, Associate Director, Institute for Latino Studies, 220 McKenna Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana, stated that he would be glad to answer any questions regarding the Institute. A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that he has some reservations about turning another vacant building into non-profit status. He asked if the various neighborhood organization had been contacted regarding this development. Mr. Phil Byrd, South Bend Heritage Foundation, noted that he has had discussions with various members of the neighborhood organization, however, he could not answer it the neighborhood organization were formally notified. Ms. Rita Kopala, 61559 Ivy Road, Lakeville, Indiana, stated that if the University of Notre Dame is involved, that they have the money and resources to oversee a project like this and the City should not be involved. 6