South Bend Redevelopment Commission

Joe Molnar, South Bend's deputy community investment director, says demolishing the historic Lafayette Building after a June 8 fire would be heartbreaking but maybe necessary if an interested developer doesn't step forward soon.

Rebecca Ford, who lives next to the 2020 S. Main St. site, on Thursday told the South Bend Redevelopment Commission that she saw a demolition firm bury wells of chemical solvents with building materials instead of removing the wells. But city officials and KCG Development say tests have shown the soil is safe for residential use.

The city of South Bend says KCG Development has encountered extra environmental cleanup costs in building a 50-unit affordable housing complex on the city's south side.

The Downtown South Bend 2045 Plan called for investments to improve the viaducts at Lafayette Boulevard, Main and Michigan streets, areas that have historically drawn homeless encampments.

Phase 1 of the Madison Lifestyle District calls for developer Great Lakes Capital to build 190 apartments and an upscale, nationally branded 119-room hotel, while the city builds a parking garage and pedestrian crossings.

The South Bend Redevelopment Commission's attorneys have told a federal bankruptcy judge that developer David Matthews could be trying to escape the city in state court because judgments there over the past three years have consistently gone against him.

South Bend’s Board of Public Works is set to consider a contract Thursday to demolish the vacant River Glen buildings, clearing the way for future redevelopment.

The South Bend Redevelopment Commission on Thursday asked city staff to come back in July with a recommendation on which proposal to select to renovate downtown's long-vacant State Theater.

The South Bend Redevelopment Commission on Thursday will consider a three-year lease with the nonprofit South Bend Bike Garage, to continue operating out of their new home on the long-vacant ground floor of the city's Wayne Street parking garage.

On Thursday the South Bend administration will ask the city's redevelopment commission for another $1.5 million to revamp Kennedy Park, bringing the project's estimated cost up over $18 million.