City council recommends further research before committing to South Shore construction
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – At Monday’s city council meeting, a resolution was passed for a recommendation to the Redevelopment Commission regarding the re-routing of the South Shore.
Ahead of the decision, dozens of advocates for the Ardmore neighborhood protested in front of the County City Building fearing the shorter route could cost them their homes
“It ain’t worth ten minutes; not taking people’s homes and putting them out on the streets,” says longtime resident Tim Weaver.
Norma West has lived in the Ardmore neighborhood for over twenty years. She says she’s not only fighting to keep her house.
“They’re just disrupting so many families and so many homes. I feel empty. I just don’t know where we’re going to go or how we’re going to move everything,” says West.
Protesters called on city leaders to push the Redevelopment Commission for a route that doesn’t cut through their community.
The city council made several amendments to their recommendation in hopes of better representing the people who live in the Ardmore neighborhood.
The resolution acknowledges the plan for re-routing would cause a “great burden both financially and emotionally to current residents of the Ardmore neighborhood.”
They recommend the Redevelopment Commission works to preserve as many homes as possible and ensure fair compensation for the homeowners of acquired properties.
The council also added that before committing the $25 million for funding construction, more research should be done into the economic impact.
The resolution will go before the Redevelopment Commission on the 29th.
To take a look at the resolution, click here.