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Mishawaka Awarded $6.5 Million to Improve Neighborhoods
Old Mishawaka High School/Main Junior High
to be renovated, other neighborhood improvements planned
Mayor Jeff Rea and Community Development Director Lory Timmer announced this morning that the City of Mishawaka has been awarded $6.5 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program Funds by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Association. As part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the Department of Housing and Urban Development created the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to mitigate the negative impacts of vacant and abandoned houses in areas of greatest need.
The $6.5 million in NSP funds will be combined with $3.4 million in local and other funding sources to create 52 residences for low - moderate income households. The core of the project will be the conversion of the current Mishawaka Furniture building located at 402 Lincolnway West into 32 affordable-rent senior citizen apartments. The building, constructed in 1910, was originally the 2nd Mishawaka High School structure. When the current high school building was opened in 1924, the building was changed to Main Junior High School. The building was sold to a private owner in the 1970’s, and is currently utilized as the Mishawaka Furniture Store. The City has a signed purchase agreement on the building.
Mayor Rea commented “This is an exciting day for downtown Mishawaka as this project represents one of the largest projects to happen in the downtown in recent memory. This building has been a fixture in our downtown for 100 years and we are excited to now have the opportunity to make some needed investment in the property. This project is another key piece of our downtown revitalization efforts and will be a nice compliment to the work happening with the Ironworks Project and the Riverwalk Townhomes. We are grateful to our State and Federal officials recognizing the importance of this project to our community and we plan to put this money to good use.”
This will be the third project of this type that the City of Mishawaka has undertaken. In the 1985, the City acquired the former Battell School building (904 N. Main), and renovated that into senior apartments. In 2003, the City acquired the former Mary Phillips School building (702 W. Lawrence), and renovated that into senior apartments. On both projects, the City completed the renovations and the Mishawaka Housing Authority manages and operates the facilities. The City will again partner with the Mishawaka Housing Authority on this project with a similar arrangement.
The timeframe for the project for design to be completed this summer, with the project bid for construction in the fall of 2009, with completion in early 2011. The cost of the project is estimated at $6.2 million, to be financed with NSP grant funds and other sources.
Mayor Rea added “This is perhaps the largest historic preservation project we’ve ever undertaken as a community. We recognize the important part this building has played in our history and we now are excited about the important part it will play in our future. This building is a very prominent part of the downtown and is visible from virtually every part of our central business district. The building has not seen significant investment in many years, and has been absent of basic things like windows for 20+ years. The renovation will help us restore the building to its original look.”
In addition to the renovation of the Mishawaka Furniture Building, $2 million of the NSP grant will be used to acquire approximately 20 substandard vacant/abandoned residences in the target area for use in the following City programs: First-Time Homebuyer, Habitat for Humanity Partnership and Lease-to-Own Self-Sufficiency. The target area for revitalization is bordered by Grove Street on the north, Sixth Street on the south, Taylor Street on the west and Cedar Street on the east and includes the City’s Central Business District, the River Center redevelopment area and Mishawaka Riverwalk. The neighborhoods in this area are the most densely populated in Mishawaka and are experiencing the highest rates of foreclosure, subprime mortgages and risk of home abandonment.
Mayor Rea commented “This grant will also help us make a difference on some key residential neighborhoods. We will acquire a number of problem properties; demolish the structures located there, making way for new single family homes. The goal here is to remove blighted structures that have been a problem, while also reducing the density in some of these residential neighborhoods. Though the funds will not allow us to deal with every problem, we can make a real difference in some key neighborhoods that sit on the front door step of our downtown and the revitalization efforts happening there. “
Spring Clean-Up Announced
The City of Mishawaka will be conducting a Spring Leaf Pick-up beginning Monday, March 23, 2009 and running through Friday, April 10, 2009. Residents are encouraged to rake leaves to the curb in front of their homes for removal by the Street department. Piles should be free of sticks and other debris. There is no set day for pick-up. Crews will be working their way through the City and will remove piles while they are in a particular area. Residents with questions may contact the Street Department at 258-1660.
Mayor Rea to Give State of the City Address
The 2009 State of the City Address, February 23rd, 2009 is available online. Click HERE for a PDF.
Mishawaka Utilities Offers Update on the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Progress
The Mishawaka Utilities website now has a slideshow from the Mishawaka Citizen Advisory Committee meeting as well as a video which addresses the importance of the St. Joseph River to the City of Mishawaka and our neighboring cities.
Click here to view now!
Mishawaka Opens New Riverwalk Bridge
November 25th, 2008
Mayor Jeff Rea announced the long awaited opening of the new Mishawaka Riverwalk Cable-Stayed Bridge connecting Battell Park and Beutter Park. A brief ribbon cutting ceremony was held and was open to the public. Staging occurred on the south side of the new bridge adjacent to Beutter Park. Everyone attending was encouraged to bring non-perishable food items that will be collected for a local food pantry by the Mayor’s Youth Council.
The cable-stayed bridge includes a 75’ tall pier with decorative metal panels. The architecturally significant bridge is not only functional but also serves as an appropriate symbol of the connection between the historic and modern. The bridge connects the oldest and newest city parks, as well as, connects older established neighborhoods to the Ironworks mixed use development currently under construction on the former Uniroyal properties.
This 3.3 million dollar project included 2 pedestrian bridges, overlook nodes, boulder outcroppings, 800 linear feet of concrete walk, ornamental lighting, and landscaping. The general contractor for the project was Northern Indiana Construction. The project has been scheduled for a Thanksgiving 2008 completion for some time. The last pieces of the project still awaiting completion are the inset aluminum panels in the bridges. However, to open the project on time, the City opted to have plywood be temporarily placed on the bridges until the aluminum panels are received from the fabricator and installed, likely to occur within the next few weeks. Mayor Rea said “We really wanted the public to have the opportunity to use these sections over the holiday.” “People tend to come in from out of town and it is a perfect place to take your friends and relatives, walk off some of your Thanksgiving dinner, and show off one of the treasures of our City.”
Mayor Rea said “The Mishawaka Riverwalk continues to be the cornerstone for many of our downtown redevelopment efforts. It connects neighborhoods and parks, takes advantage of our greatest natural resource in the St. Joseph River. The Riverwalk adds value to existing homes and neighborhoods, and ultimately will be a source of pride of our community for generations to come.”
Additional construction already scheduled
Through a partnership with INDOT and MACOG, the City has just bid the section of the Riverwalk that will connect Kate’s Garden to Kamm Island directly behind the wastewater treatment facility. This 1.3 million dollar project received approximately $900,000 in federal transportation grants and will likely start in the coming months and is estimated to be completed in the Fall of 2009.
Demolition Work to Begin at East Third Street
and South Merrifield Avenue
Mayor Jeff Rea would like to announce that the City of Mishawaka will begin demolition of the five structures on the northwest corner of East Third Street and South Merrifield Avenue on December 1, 2008. The City purchased the properties - 854, 858 and 862 East Third Street and 119 and 121 South Merrifield Avenue - in 2008 with the intention of eventually using the site for three new houses for the First Time Homebuyer program. In the interim, the cleared lots will serve as a staging area for infrastructure work on East Third Street. The City has contracted with Ritschard Brothers, Inc. of South Bend for removal of the structures. No traffic restrictions are anticipated in the area.
Mayor Rea commented “I’m excited about the investment we are making in this important neighborhood. It signifies our continued commitment to improving Mishawaka neighborhoods. These structures were once a significant part of this neighborhood but for years have been a vacant, blighting influence. The opportunity to inject new owner occupied, single family homes into this neighborhood should give the neighborhood the real shot in the arm it needs.”
MAYOR REA ANNOUNCES OPENING OF TWO LANES OF MAIN STREET UNDERPASS
Mayor Jeff Rea announced today that the long awaited opening of two lanes of the Main Street Underpass with the Canadian National Railroad will be officially open to the public beginning Monday, November 17, 2008. A ribbon cutting will take place at the site north of Broadway on Friday November 14, 2008, at 3:00p.m. The public is invited to this event.
Mayor Proclaims 175th Birthday
July 15, 2008
Mayor Jeff Rea today issued a proclamation lauding the 175th Anniversary of the City of Mishawaka.
The text of the Mayor's proclamation indicated that on July 15, 1833, the Indiana General Assembly officially incorporated Saint Joseph Ironworks as a village. In 1838, St. Joseph Ironworks and three other small towns nearby were incorporated into one — Mishawaka.
175th Anniversary of the City of Mishawaka and the 2008 Summer of Celebration!
June 5, 2008
Mishawaka began its official celebration of the 175th anniversary of the city at the first Beutter Park Summer Concert of the 2008 season on June 5, as part of the Princess City's 2008 Summer of Celebration. Mayor Rea kicked off the year-long celebration, leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday”, immediately followed by cupcakes provided by Martin’s Supermarket.
The birthday celebration at the 2008 Summer Concert Series is part of Mishawaka’s Summer of Celebration, including celebrations of the 175th anniversary of the City, the 80th anniversary of the Battell Park Band Shell, and the 25th anniversary of Summerfest.
Mayor Rea invites everyone to join him throughout the summer, as the City of Mishawaka hosts celebrations across the city to honor and celebrate the special anniversary of the Princess City.
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