Comments on: Notre Dame Moves Forward on the Eddy Street Commons Development

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:58:27 +0000

I think you need to look at the bigger picture here. Having a world-class university–one that is in the top 20 of the country has to be viewed as an advantage and a draw to the city of South Bend, not to mention its national sports program. As an example, according to the media, a Notre Dame home football weekend brings 8-10 million dollars per weekend in local revenues to the community. Then consider the non-economic value of the community: professors doing research that alter health care and medical delivery not just for Indiana but the entire country, social programs funded by the university in terms of dollars and volunteer support from some of the best and brightest collegians across the country that enhance the well-being of the citizens of South Bend and ultimately the renewal projects in home development and modernization of some of the most depleted and abandoned neighborhoods throughout the Midwest. Most tersely, Notre Dame has put South Bend on the map. Just note the visitors who come to South Bend at any given time, including a sitting President. Any city would be proud to be home to such a nationally recognized university. Just stop for a minute, and imagine where South Bend would be without Notre Dame–much like South Bend without Studebaker in the 50=60′s. Count your blessings!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 05:15:45 +0000

Sorry – I just found this site while doing some research on the Eddy Street commons, so I’m a few months late. But, for the benefit of anyone who happens to read this in the future, the previous comments by Jonathon are ridiculous. Notre Dame is its own municipal entity – it is not actually “in” South Bend. If you ever mailed anything to someone there, you’d notice that you mail it to NOTRE DAME, IN, zip code 46556. That is because ND has its own post office, as well as a power plant, water source, police and fire departments, and infrastructure. As a result, ND does not pay municipal taxes to South Bend because it is not a part of South Bend. Likewise, South Bend does not “support” Notre Dame because Notre Dame has its own municipal utilities. It has been this way since 1842. To complain about it makes no more sense than to complain that property owners in Mishawaka do not pay taxes to South Bend on that property.

Now, of course, ND does not pay sales tax and other state and federal taxes because of its nonprofit status. This is true of every other university in the state. You can discuss the general merits of this all you like, but that does not change the fact that Notre Dame neither contributes to, nor takes from, the South Bend municipal government.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:07:16 +0000

I’m not sure where a “fair” breakpoint should be, but I do agree it’s a shame that every non-profit is exempt from property taxes without limits. Perhaps giving them a break or limiting the amount would be better than just wiping it out completely.

I wholeheartedly appreciate the commerce, jobs and other value that Notre Dame (and other non-profits for that matter) brings to our community. However for the record, Notre Dame does not employ the majority of South Bend. According to http://www.exploresouthbend.org , South Bend’s population is well over 107,000 and Notre Dame employs just over 4,000.

Here’s the rundown on the top 10 largest employers:

University of Notre Dame: 4,174
South Bend Community School Corp: 3,400
Memorial Health System: 3,094
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Inc.: 3,030
AM General: 2,360
Honeywell: 1,840
St. Joseph County: 1,631
Indiana University South Bend: 1,481
Martin’s Super Markets: 1,443
City of South Bend: 1,342

By: Markus

Markus — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:45:09 +0000

To JOHNATHON…

Notre Dame pretty much employs the majority of South Bend, so quit complaining.

By: Jonathon

Jonathon — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:32:41 +0000

I meant to say “They should NOT be tax-exempt on property that they run businesses and apartments on.”

By: Jonathon

Jonathon — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:30:40 +0000

With all due respect to Mike in the last post, that is nonsense. ND is not subject to real estate property taxes because if claims to be a not for profit entity, not because it occupies unincorporated land. Unincorporated land is subject to real estate property taxes just like incorporated land is.

I have no idea what is meant regarding the endowment quote. The endowment isn’t for the benefit of anyone expect ND, period. Call them up, they aren’t going to share it with you or anyone else.

Lastly, I don’t think we should have to worry about ND being around. They aren’t moving and with so much invested in the area it just isn’t going to happen in the foreseeable future. ND isn’t like a manufacturer that can just open up shop somewhere else. It is time that ND pay its fair share of taxes just like everyone else in the unincorporated county. They should be tax-exempt on property that they run businesses and apartments on. That is unfair and ridiculous.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:32:12 +0000

ND is an unincorporated community. Therefore it is not subject to local taxes. Without ND around South Bend would lose millions and millions of dollars a year.

You need to think long term–that is what the endowment is for.

Just look at the tuition and fees of ND students. That’s where the money comes from, not from South Bend.

By: Jonathon

Jonathon — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:36:33 +0000

Sure hope that the Eddy Street Commons pays real estate property taxes, unlike most of the University. Odd that off-campus apartments and housing units pay real estate property taxes but ND on-campus housing doesn’t have to…it is hardly a “charity” with the need to be tax exempt. Also, why is the ND Bookstore building and on-campus restaurants that are open to the public exempt from real estate property taxes??? I don’t think ND with it’s $3.5 Billion Dollar endowment should be supported by the local taxpayers via real estate property tax exemptions….it is absurd.