1408 Elwood Avenue Redevelopment Progress as of Fall 2019.

1. Major Accomplishments: Rockne Center at Muessel Grove
1. One hundred percent of the work performed to date has been from private
investment by a Catholic family that cares about ending poverty (despite promises
made by the City to support after the building was “abated and down on the ground”
and despite constant, costly interference, harassment and threats).
2. All illegal activity having a negative impact on the community (former gang
headquarters, tagging, vandalism, building break-ins, prostitution, illicit drugs) has been
shut down and the site has been clear of those offenses for over 2 years.
3. Friable asbestos containing materials have been professionally abated (removed and
disposed of in accordance to federal law) in all buildings.
4. The vacant portions of the various buildings have been secured and the ownership has
worked in partnership with the South Bend Police Department to eliminate future
vandalism, dumping, graffiti another negative activity from returning.
5. Two minority owned companies who have been on property since the 1990’s have
grown their businesses under our ownership. The strategy to keep the current
businesses rather than displace them has also ensured that the occupied property has
been continuously improved and has prevented it falling into disrepair and being
vandalized like the buildings that have been taken down (the City has been trying to
get us to evict these companies from day one without justification).
6. Tenant spaces have been updated with new bathroom fixtures, air conditioning in the
front offices (that were getting hot in the summer) and new light fixtures. Additionally,
long term problems in roof leaks and mold have been fixed.
7. 150,000+ square feet of dangerous and vacant structures (that had been left to
deteriorate) have been razed to ground level without incident.
8. No damage to city streets was caused from the demolition despite much of the
frontage abutting the ROW.
9. 300+ graffiti markings left unchecked for 15+ years, have been removed.
10.98% of the 2,000,000 lbs+ of waste generated from the razing of the buildings has been
recycled locally in Indiana.
11.Over 300 invasive trees that were putting roofs and other infrastructure of the property
at risk have been removed.

2. 12.Tens of thousands of bricks from the original mid to late 1800’s construction were
recycled and allowed Notre Dame to match the original Notre Dame Buildings for their
new Chapel project (which were made with from the sands of Notre Dame Campus).
13.Compliance letters with No Violations received from IDEM for the removal of asbestos
that had deteriorated and littered the razed portion of the facility for over 4 decades.
14.The original Drewry’s limestone sign that was prominent above the executive offices
and tasting area was saved from demolition (to be reinforced, refurbished and to be
reinstalled later on the historic building fronting Portage at a later date).
15.Temporary and permanent fencing and gates have been installed to continue to
prevent access to the property during redevelopment.
16.Current Tenant Spaces have been upgraded since 2016 to meet provisions from a fire
inspection to bring them up to City requirements for the first time ever.
17.Remaining Buildings have gone into architectural planning and have been evaluated
for reuse and a tenant improvement plan has been formulated.
18. Renown Historic Architect, Lauren Allsopp, has been retained to test mortar, segment
brick, and build a plan for restoration of both the existing buildings and the
reconstruction of the most historic building on its 1860's foundation (which was
preserved from the demolition).
19.Renown Visionary, and former Economic Development Director of Austin Texas, Kevin
Johns has been engaged to assist in the project.
20.A Urban Food Campus site plan has been created for the redevelopment by a renown
Dallas Firm known for a myriad of successes on urban re-development that integrates
into the fabric of communities.
21.A tenant was attracted that meets the provisions of the 2018 charrette lead by Opticos
Design for “ideal characteristics” for companies who could be tenants in the buildings
they left in their plan for “adaptive reuse.”
22.In roads have been made (because of that tenants long standing relationship with a
technology program at Notre Dame) to start the process of aligning various
departments in the project to bring Notre Dame further into the community.

3. Small Sampling of Pictures of Asbestos Abated and Hazards Removed – 2015 Photos