06-08-09 Common Council Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 8, 2009 on a Resolution in support of the renovation and adaptive reuse of the Hansel Center for the proposed Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture. The Resolution was passed by the Near West Side Neighborhood Organization. The second communication was from Catherine Hostetler, Director of the South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Commission, and the letter states the commission’s support for the adaptive reuse of the Hansel Center as a means for preserving this National Register designated structure listed as Outstanding in the City of South Bend 2005 Interim Report of Historic Sites and Structures. Mr. Schalliol stated that the second item that the Council asked him to address was the concern that the University of Notre Dame might not follow through on its planned use of the building. Mr. Schalliol advised that spearheading the adaptive reuse of the building as Notre Dame’s Center of Art and Culture is Gil Cardenas, who is the Notre Dame Assistant Provost, the Director of the Latino Institute for Latino Studies and the Julian Samora Chair in Latino Studies. Mr. Cardenas is currently working on the Memorandum of Understanding between the University and various interested parties, including the City of South Bend. He stated that Mr. Cardenas also has raised substantial donations to be used for the interior rehab of the Hansel Center, which will be used concurrently with the use of Commission funds on the exterior and grounds of the building. Mr. Schalliol stated that the Redevelopment Staff feels that Mr. Cardenas’ commitment to this project, and his position with the University of Notre Dame is sufficient evidence that the University will follow through in the adaptive reuse of the Hansel Center in to the Notre Dame Center of Art and Culture. A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. The following individuals spoke in favor of this bill. Ms. Noreen Dean-Moran, 716 W. Colfax Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, stated that this project is for the betterment of the good. She stated that this building was once the Children’s Dispensary and then was the home to the Hansel Center. She stated that the building has been vacant for a very long time and unfortunately during that time it had been vandalized. She stated that Indiana University of South Bend is investing right across the street in the building that once was the Natatorium. It is now going to be the Civil Rights Heritage Center. Ms. Dean Moran stated that she this project as stabilization for the neighborhood. Mr. Richard Williams, 700 W. Washington, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is very excited for the substantial change in the area. He stated that it started with the new Fire Station located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and the investment by IUSB for the Civil Rights Heritage Center and now Notre Dame investing millions of dollars into the renovation of the Hansel Center into the University of Notre Dame’s Institute of Latino Studies. Ms. Monica Tetzlaft, 1232 Longfellow, South Bend, Indiana stated that she was very happy to see the renovation of the Natatorium by IUSB in to the Civil Rights Heritage Center and now is very excited to see the University of Notre Dame stepping up and making a commitment to the City by renovating the Hansel Center into the Institute for Latino Studies. She stated that this is a positive step to revitalizing the West Washington Street Neighborhood. Ms. Pamela Matthews, 613 S. Liberty Street, South Bend, Indiana advised that she is an st intern in the 21 Century Scholar’s Program. She noted that diversity is very much a part of South Bend. She stated that the Hispanic culture is very much alive in the South Bend Community and is empowering it’s youth to be involved in positive ways in the neighborhood. She stated that she is very much in favor of this Resolution. Ms. Susan Visser, 627 Leland, South Bend, Indiana, advised that she is the Director of the South Bend Regional Museum of Art. Ms. Visser stated that she is in favor of this project and believes that a cultural center is an excellent addition to the neighborhood and the City of South Bend. 21