The Community Investment Committee voted to forward three separate resolutions to the full Council with favorable recommendations: a proposed purchase of 749 Harrison Avenue to remove a deteriorated church building, the acquisition of 1024 Indiana Avenue to support a community center in Rum Village, and the purchase of three adjacent parcels on Randolph Street to facilitate construction of an underground stormwater-storage tank required by a federal consent decree.

Joe Molnar, assistant director of Growth & Opportunity, said the Harrison Avenue property dates to the 1920s and is in "severely deteriorated condition," and that staff recommended acquisition to address neighborhood safety and long-term redevelopment. The proposed purchase price, based on the average of two appraisals, is $188,500.

On Indiana Avenue, Molnar said the city is in discussions with the Boys & Girls Club to renovate the nearly 13,000-square-foot building into a community center that aligns with the Rum Village neighborhood plan; the proposed purchase price in the agreement is $250,000, below the state-law appraisal average. Supporters in the public hearing cited neighborhood planning input and the need for youth programming.

Molnar said acquisition of the three Randolph Street parcels would reduce construction costs and neighborhood disruption for a large underground storage tank that prevents sanitary sewage from entering the St. Joseph River during heavy rainfall — a project tied to the city's long-term control plan under a consent decree with EPA and the Department of Justice.

Public comment included both opposition and support. Jordan Geiger questioned whether the city already owned vacant lots in the Harrison area and whether enforcement could achieve the same outcome; David Buggs and others spoke in favor of the Indiana Avenue purchase because of community programming needs. Each resolution advanced with a favorable committee recommendation and will be considered by the full Council.