Votes at a glance: Council approves four economic development resolutions including Studebaker stabilization and Sheridan expansion

South Bend — The South Bend Common Council on Monday, Feb. 10 adopted four economic-development resolutions granting tax abatements and authorizing declaratory resolutions for designated revitalization areas. All passed by roll call vote, 8-0.

Votes at a glance (each item adopted):

1) Resolution 25-09 — Studebaker administration building (635 S. Main St.) - Action: Confirmed a declaratory resolution designating the former Studebaker administration building as an economic revitalization area and approving a two-year vacant-building tax abatement for Studebaker Admin Q0V B, LLC. - Project/intent: Stabilize and preserve approximately 149,000 square feet of historic structure, complete roof/window repairs and environmental remediation to make the building developable. - Investment and tax effect: Developer commitment approximately $920,000 over the two-year abatement period; estimated taxes abated about $20,000, taxes paid about $10,000 during the abatement. - Vote: Adopted by roll call, 8 ayes.

2) Resolution 25-10 — Real property abatement at 445 N. Sheridan (GLC Sheridan LLC) - Action: Confirmed a declaratory resolution designating 445 N. Sheridan as an economic revitalization area for an eight-year real property tax abatement. - Project/intent: Support construction of a new approximately 112,000-square-foot facility on currently vacant land, enabling a private investment reported at nearly $12 million and anticipated creation of 15 full-time jobs. - Tax effect: Without the project the property would generate roughly $120,000 over 10 years; with the project the administration estimated roughly $1.2 million in property taxes over 10 years even after abatements. - Vote: Adopted by roll call, 8 ayes.

3) Resolution 25-11 — Personal property abatement at 445 N. Sheridan (GTA Containers LLC) - Action: Confirmed declaratory resolution designating the same property for a five-year personal property tax abatement to support equipment investment. - Investment and tax effect: Personal-property investment reported at about $2.3 million; estimated abated taxes $131,000 with $53,000 paid during abatement period (administration figures). - Vote: Adopted by roll call, 8 ayes.

4) Resolution 25-13 — Center City / Grand Leader building (225 & 229 S. Michigan St.) - Action: Confirmed a declaratory resolution designating the property as an economic revitalization area for an eight-year real property tax abatement for RSPG Global Consulting LLC. - Project/intent: Rehabilitate a long-vacant historic building into restaurant space, a possible brewery and a hotel on upper floors; restore an older facade believed to be under a 1960s veneer. - Investment and tax effect: Project investment cited at about $5.8 million; administration estimated 11 new full-time positions and substantive tax-base growth even with the abatement (roughly $555,000 paid over 10 years compared with roughly $84,000 without the project). - Vote: Adopted by roll call, 8 ayes.

What council heard: Joseph Molnar, assistant director of growth and opportunity, presented the Studebaker, Sheridan and Center City items and summarized investment, square footage and tax projections. Kevin Smith, a petitioner for the Studebaker site, told the council he aims to stabilize and position the building for future development; a public speaker, Sue Castle, offered public support for Kevin Smith and praised his sustainability focus on reuse. Christina Veil Miller spoke for the Center City project and was available for questions.

Procedural notes and next steps: Several items had appeared previously before the Community Investment Committee and were returned to the council with favorable committee recommendations. The Sheridan project (25-10/11) and Center City abatement documents now allow the projects to proceed through permitting and implementation; bond or financing steps, if any, will be handled in future actions as required.

Roll call (consistent across votes): Council member Neskoski — Aye; Council member Gooden Rogers — Aye; Council member White — Aye; Council member McBride — Aye; Council member Bowden Simpson — Aye; Council member Warner — Aye; Vice President Thomas Morgan — Aye; President Lee — Aye.

Each resolution's adoption was moved and seconded in council and recorded by roll call; the record shows each passed unanimously (8–0).