Bringing people into the economic equation

Community Forum on Economic Development holds public meeting on revitalization plans for La Salle Square

by Karl Hardy

Last night I attended a packed public meeting at the Minority Health Care Coalition office in La Salle Square on South Bend's northwest side. The Community Forum on Economic Development (CFED) brought together a diverse panel including city officials, representatives of neighborhood associations, and faith organizations to discuss plans to direct funds from the Airport TIF towards revitalizing LaSalle Square.

(The Airport TIF refers to the city's ability to ensure that tax revenue received within an area surrounding the South Bend Regional Airport is spent within that same area on infrastructure improvements.

- I'm not an expert, hopefully this is correct ;)

Attendees listened as city officials, including Jeff Vitton of the Division of Community Development, and Common Council members Henry Davis, Jr. (D- 2nd District) and Karen White (D- At-large) outlined plans for a steering committee composed of both civic and business interests that will work to determine the best way to bring retail, medical, and other resources to the area.

The Rev. Hardie Blake, of Project Impact, spoke on the importance of valuing human beings in what is too often a purely "market-based" equation. The sentiment was echoed by several audience members during a discussion/Q&A period that followed the panel presentation.

Marty Wolfson, of CFED, also commended the city officials for their actions in ensuring citizen participation in the steering committee that will have "teeth" in actually influencing the outcome of revitalization plans.

Disappointingly, no residents of the nearby Beacon Heights neighborhood attended the public forum, something that Blake referenced in his remarks.