NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
"AN UPDATE ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF LASALLE SQUARE"
When: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 7 PM
Where: LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend
A presentation by Jeff Gibney, Executive Director of the Department of Community & Economic Development, City of South Bend
Some background for the discussion:
Since the first "Annual Forum on Economic Development" in April of 2006, the Community Forum for Economic Development has focused on the need to revitalize South Bend's "Inner City." In one of the 2006 Forum's workshops, "Revitalizing the inner city; the dangers of urban sprawl," panel members Charlotte Pfeifer, Gladys Muhammad and Mike Keen called for an inside-outside strategy; if the Airport Economic Development TIF could be expanded outward to Portage Prairie (a proposal that was being discussed at that time), then it could also be expanded inward to include disinvested areas like LaSalle Square. The following August, a Michiana Point of View article by Marty Wolfson elaborated on that proposal, stating: "Using TIF money to redevelop LaSalle Square should not be the end of our efforts, but simply one way to take on the larger task of including all areas in the City's prosperity. It is a positive step to make economic development work for all."
For a number of years, residents and community leaders had been advocating for the revitalization of the LaSalle Square area. The proposal to use TIF funds provided a possible solution and on February 5, 2007 Mayor Steve Luecke announced that the City of South Bend would investigate the expansion of the Airport Economic Development Area to include LaSalle Square. On June 19, 2007 a Declaratory Resolution was approved by the Redevelopment Commission and the legal process began. After approval from the Area Plan Commission and the South Bend Common Council, the Redevelopment Commission approved the expansion on July 20, 2007. On December 7, 2007 the Redevelopment Commission approved the TIF budget for 2008, including funds for LaSalle Square.
However, the LaSalle Square Area was not the only addition to the Airport Economic Development Area in 2007. The Marycrest/Hurwich area along Western Avenue and the former Studebaker Corridor were also added to the expanded Airport TIF district. In the three years since December of 2007, there have been significant changes to the Studebaker Corridor as the City prepares for the possibilities offered by the Plan for Ignition Park. We would like to hear about those efforts but also are concerned about progress in the Marycrest/Hurwich and, especially, the LaSalle Square Areas. What has happened during these three years and what is anticipated in the immediate future?
That is the main agenda item for our January meeting. Mr. Gibney's report will be followed by a question and answer period and discussion of future plans for LaSalle Square.