WSBT photo

WSBT photo (September 13, 2012)

WSBT-TV Report WSBT-TV

11:52 a.m. EDT, September 13, 2012
A new agreement passed in a 4-1 vote at Thursday morning's South Bend Redevelopment Commission meeting is a key step in bringing jobs back to a now empty South Bend building.

The company, AJ Wright, shut down operations at its warehouse and distribution center on Sample Street on the west side. The president of the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce Jeff Rea says at least 12 different potential buyers have asked about the building.

On Thursday South Bend's Redevelopment Commission agreed to make the AJ Wright penalties solely the responsibility of AJ Wright....not the property and whoever buys it. 

Mayor Pete Buttigieg says there is no guarantee a new company is moving in, but he believes things are getting close. 

"We've got a buyer who is ready to take over on this building and market it, and has a lot of promising leads,” Buttigieg said. Too soon to announce anything, too soon to be sure of anything”

The mayor says saying too much about potential economic development deals before they are signed on the dotted line can wind up jeopardizing the deals.