Talk:South Bend Conservatory

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Richard DeClercq 16:30, 13 September 2006 (UTC) I read with great sadness the 9/7/2006 article in the tribune informing us that the Potowatomi Greenhouse will be closed. It is one more step this city seems to be taking in it's goal to becoming a third rate city. Look at our track record. Our leadership listened to a small minority of county residents and were convinced to reject the Tondu coal gasification plant. This would have been an excellent gorwth opportunity as well as a showcase industry which would gained us national attention. Another community WILL benefit from this plant. Just last week WSBT announced it was leaving South Bend to relocate to Mishawaka (Note the the SB in WSBT stands for South Bend). The PBS station WNIT will take the building. We have allowed prime downtown real estate to be vacated by a successful business which has occupied this location for decades, to be replaced by a not for profit (non tax paying) organization. We dragged our feet while Mark Tarner, a successful downtown businessman proposed creative uses for vacant downtown locations. Instead of supporting Project Future, a real chance for successful growth, we second guess their direction and dilute their efforts through unnecessary oversight. The growth and prosperity of our community depends upon our ability to attract and welcome the business opportunites that are necessary to provide jobs and increase tax revenues. The closing of the greenhouse is small within the broader scope of our city's growth problems but it's closing symbolizes the approach of our leadership. We survive by closing, curtailing, shrinking and vetoing. Perhaps we could save money by moving the offices of the mayor and his redevelopment director to the greenhouse. This may be the closest that either of them ever gets to "growth".

Richard DeClercq South Bend Resident