06-08-09 Common Council Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING JUNE 8, 2009 Mr. David James, 916 Emerson Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he grew up and lived on the west side of South Bend for many years until moving to his Emerson Street home. He stated that this project blends in well with the IUSB Civil Rights Heritage Center directly across the street. He stated that the City of South Bend has a much diverse population and how appropriate to have two institutions like IUSB and the University of Notre Dame coming together to renovate to buildings that have been vacate for a very long time to house the Civil Rights Heritage Center and now the Institute of Latino Studies. He stated that this is just the beginning for the City of South Bend to walk the walk. He stated that this City needs help and this project is a great opportunity for the neighborhood. He urged the Council’s favorable recommendation. Ms. Connie Blair, 1012 W. Washington Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she has lived in the neighborhood her entire life. She stated that the change in the neighborhood has been monumental. For a period of time the neighborhood had declined and is now starting to revitalize. She stated that she now lets her four year old niece play in the front yard. Ms. Blair stated that this project is a positive use for the building and encourage the Council’s favorable adoption. The following individuals spoke in opposition to the bill: Ms. Rita Kopala, 61550 Ivy Road, Lakeville, Indiana, advised that she is not totally against the bill. However, she feels that the University of Notre Dame has sufficient means to pay for the entire project. She stated that it would be nice to see the University of Notre Dame donate the entire amount of money that is needed to complete this project. She stated that if they want to do this project then they should just do it on their own. Councilmember Henry Davis advised that he believes that the area does not need another not for profit organization going into his District. He would like to see retail shopping for the residents of the Second District. He also questioned if the workers will look like him and also questioned whose idea was this? In Rebuttal, Mr. Schalliol stated that he had nothing further to add, but urged the Council favorable consideration. Mr. Allert Brown-Gort, Assistant Director Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame, residing at 202 S. Filbert, New Carlisle, Indiana, noted that the Institute will be staffed by professionals. He noted that the Institute will have three highly qualified individuals who are proficient in the area of Latino Studies. Mr. Brown-Gort stated that he believes this project will increase the quality of life in the neighborhood and be a great asset to the neighborhood along with IUSB’s Civil Rights Heritage Center. He advised that the idea was an evolution. Ms. Jackie Ruckert, IUSB Director of Multi-Cultural Students, asked Councilmember Henry Davis to keep the issue of workers that looked like him separate from this Resolution. She stated that this is the best use of funds for this dilapidated building. She further advised that IUSB and Notre Dame are going to be the best neighbors for the entire area as they possible can be. Ms. Glady’s Muhammad, South Bend Heritage Foundation, stated that for the past thirty (30) plus years the neighborhood has been struggling to revitalize itself. She stated that the area has been a haven to drugs, crime and everything else illegally imaginable. She stated that it was the City of South Bend and South Bend Heritage Foundation together to revitalize the west side of South Bend. She stated that they went to IUSB and suggested the idea of a Civil Rights Center for the African Heritage. She stated that they went to the business community to get the Save-A-Lot Grocery Store on Chapin Street and to the hospital to get the health facility. She stated that those facilities did not come to them. She stated that it takes collaboration, communication and working together as an entire community to get new development to invest in a neighborhood. Ms. Muhammad stated that everyone is welcome to attend the Near Northwest Neighborhood meetings and 22