Common Council moves forward with Inwoods Building redevelopment

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The South Bend Common Council met Monday night, voting to bring new life to some of South Bend's vacant buildings.

The building in question, the Inwoods Building on South Michigan Street is in the heart of downtown South Bend and has been vacant for 25 years now, so all councilmembers were on board to vote on a tax abatement in support of new development there.

They approved a 2-year vacant building tax abatement and 10-year mixed-use development real property tax abatement.

Some councilmembers even commented on the condition of the inside of the building and acknowledged that redevelopment won't be impossible but a big undertaking.

Sarah Hill, the building's owner, is looking to create a mixed-use development of commercial space and an art market on the first floor.

She says now that the necessary tax abatements are approved, and she has support from the city council, she's looking forward to next steps.

"It's time to get started and start our design process and get things really written down and make a plan for us to move forward," says Sarah Hill, owner of Penny Hill Properties.

Hill says hopefully in two years, that first floor will be finished, bringing more vitality and foot traffic to that block of downtown.

Erik Glavich, the city's Director of Growth and Opportunity says the next step now is at the March 10th meeting, where they will present the Confirming Resolutions which, if adopted, would finalize the abatements.