HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-30-2010 South Bend wins Gold Award for Municipal Excellence
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
November 30, 2010
12:30 p.m.
South Bend wins Gold Award for Municipal Excellence
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
For the second time under Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, neighborhood revitalization efforts
by the City of South Bend and local partners have received the top honor from the
nation’s oldest and largest municipal organization.
The City of South Bend on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, will be awarded the National League of
Cities’ Gold Award for Municipal Excellence for its efforts in revitalizing South Bend’s
Northeast Neighborhood. South Bend previously won the award in 2002.
“We congratulate South Bend and the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization program
for receiving an Award for Municipal Excellence,” said Donald J. Borut, NLC executive
director. “South Bend’s program has improved the quality of life for all citizens by
developing a creative solution to a pressing local problem.”
The award recognized the City’s participation in the formation of the Northeast
Neighborhood Revitalization Organization, a partnership for redevelopment efforts that:
?Created a plan that led to the development of the $215-million Eddy Street
Commons by Kite Realty Group, supported by $35 million in City infrastructure.
?Supported infill housing efforts by the Northeast Neighborhood Council and the
University of Notre Dame.
?Acquired and re-platted land to build 50 new low-to-moderate income and
market-rate homes between Eddy Street Commons and Ind. 23.
Also included in the award recognition was the City’s involvement in the:
?Creation of Innovation Park at Notre Dame (along with the University and Project
Future) as part of South Bend’s dual-site, state-certified technology park. In the
year since its founding, Innovation Park has been home to more than 30 clients.
?Location and expansion of the Indiana University School of Medicine at South
Bend (with Notre Dame).
?Development of a master plan for reuse of the former Saint Joseph Regional
Medical Center site, now likely to be the home to a new St. Joseph’s High School.
“When City government works with excellent partners, the results speak for themselves,”
said Luecke, who will receive the award Dec. 3 in Denver at the League’s annual
Congress of Cities & Exposition at the Colorado Convention Center. “This prestigious
recognition from our peer cities across the nation speaks to the quality of the
transformation that is taking place in our Northeast Neighborhood and throughout South
Bend. When we bring together public and private sectors, the City and the University,
neighbors and institutions, we achieve golden results. This is an exciting time for South
Bend.”
In receiving the award in the 50,001-150,000 population category, Luecke will be
accompanied by Timothy Sexton, president of the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization
Organization and associate vice president for public affairs at the University of Notre
Dame; Marguerite Taylor, a neighborhood resident and officer with the Northeast
th
Neighborhood Council; and City Council member Ann Puzzello, whose 4 district
includes the Northeast Neighborhood.
The NNRO included representatives of the City of South Bend, the Northeast
Neighborhood Council, the University of Notre Dame, Memorial Hospital, Madison
Center and Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. More recently, South Bend Clinic
has become a supporting institution. South Bend Heritage Foundation provided staff
support for the NNRO.
South Bend was among four Gold winners in four population categories, while four other
cities received Silver awards. There were 16 finalists in the 50,001-150,000 population
category and 45 finalists overall in four population categories. At the NLC Congress of
Cities & Exposition, South Bend’s award-winning project will be on display in the
exposition hall – one of 34 communities invited to display information about their
innovative projects before the 2,500 participants.
As a Gold winner, South Bend will receive an award of $2,000, which will be donated to
a community non-profit of the city’s choice.
Previously known as the James C. Howland Award, the National League of Cities’ Gold
Award for Municipal Excellence was also presented to the City of South Bend in 2002
for its work with South Bend Heritage Foundation for the Near West Side Neighborhood
Revitalization.
The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to
strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance.
NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more
than 218 million Americans.
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