07-27-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 27, 2009 he is not taking issue with Mr. Carruthers’ mission, but the location. He stated that Aid Ministry is already in the area along with two (2) homes for Life Treatment Center and that is the issue that really needs to be addressed. He stated that the resurgence of the near northwest side neighborhood has been due partly also to the residential homeowners interest in making the area single family. He commended the investment of the Franklin Place Apartments. The new owners have rehabbed that building and made it a wonderful place to live. He reiterated that this area is a gem and a real benefit to the city. It makes the city vibrant, it’s vital and it’s an attraction for people who visit this town. Maureen Bolten, 625 W. Colfax, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is twenty-four year resident of the neighborhood and a member of the Near West Side Neighborhood Organization. She stated that when she bought her home the house next door was a rooming house. She said that home was bought by a woman who made it her home after seeing how wonderful the neighborhood was. She lived there for about ten years and then sold it to a couple who are raising their children there. She stated that the property in question was used as an office for an attorney in town. She stated that she understands that it would take some extensive remodeling to make it a single family home again. She stated that she understands that no matter who buys the home that it would have to be rezoned for the specific use, but would like to see it a residential home again. She stated that she supports the neighborhood and supports Mr. Carruthers mission, but not at that location. Ms. Connie Blair, 1012 W. Washington, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she agrees with the neighbors in the area. She stated that she has lived in the neighborhood for over thirty years and has watched the progress from an area where no one would want to go to a place where they all live. She stated that she has seen changes house by house, block by block, and the fact is that there are small children living on this block that is something that would not have happened ten or so year ago. She stated that the neighborhood is coming back alive and families are wanted to move in and raise their children in the neighborhood. She stated that the neighbors need all of the Council’s support to keep them going to making their neighborhood a more residential place and charming area that everyone wants to bring visitors to. Ms. Marjorie Kinzie, 719 W. Washington, South Bend, Indiana, stated that the neighborhood supports Mr. Carruthers effort; it’s the location of it. She stated that she likes to walk the neighborhood and walks downtown whenever she can and she knows the area very well and is very familiar with the contrast from the near west side and the fragility of Taylor Street. She noted Jefferson east of Taylor; and Wayne east of Taylor really needs help in being revitalized. She urged the Council to turn down this rezoning not because of what the project is but because the area is just too fragile to support this. Herb Herendeen, 710 W. Washington, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he opposes this rezoning not because of its purpose. Mr. Herendeen asked if this is a not-for-profit organization. If the project is for profit Mr. Carruthers would certainly have the means or the ability to locate that facility in a less concentrated area where there are many other commercial type locations that could be found for that same purpose. Mr. Dwuan Watson, 226 S. Taylor, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is not against Mr. Carruthers purpose he is against the over saturation of this type of project in a neighborhood. He stated that before he purchased his home at 226 S. Taylor it was the neighborhood crack house. He stated that now he houses medical students from Notre Dame, Ireland, Canada, Asia, and France. He stated that he and his wife have renovated the home to make it what it is today. He stated that his property taxes have jumped up because of the renovation from $2,200 to $5,000 a year. He stated that even with the increase in taxes he and his wife are not going anywhere and just wanted the Council to know about the investment that they have made in the area. In Rebuttal, Mr. Carruthers stated that it sounds contradicting to him that everyone is in support of the half-way house but don’t want the half-way house. He stated that is fine and he understands that the neighbors have concerns about their property values. He stated that he can drive up and down Taylor Street about 9:30 or 10:00 at night and find 15