Work is progressing rapidly on Phase II of Eddy Street Commons, a significant $90 million mixed-use development project adjacent to the University of Notre Dame, aimed at transforming South Bend’s Northeast Neighborhood.
This ambitious collaboration between the University and Kite Realty is set to introduce a vibrant mix of spaces, including 8,500 square feet dedicated to restaurants, 17 versatile “flex” units, 433 modern apartment units, and 22 single-family homes. The development will also feature a brand-new Robinson Community Learning Center and a convenient stand-alone grocery store, further enhancing the community amenities.
Phase I of the Eddy Street Commons project, a sprawling development encompassing 170,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and office spaces, 266 apartments, 123 condos, 78 row/townhomes, a substantial 1,276-vehicle parking garage, a 119-room Fairfield Inn & Suites, and a 164-room Embassy Suites, is nearing completion. The Embassy Suites is anticipated to open its doors in September 2018, marking a major milestone.
The mixed-use components of Phase I are fully leased, demonstrating strong demand, and all condos and townhomes have been successfully sold, highlighting the project’s appeal.
Collectively, Phase I and Phase II represent a substantial investment of nearly $300 million in the Northeast Neighborhood. This diverse residential area, located directly south of the University of Notre Dame, is known for its charming, walkable, tree-lined streets and a blend of historic and contemporary homes.
Phase I concentrated on the initial block of Eddy Street immediately south of the Notre Dame campus, stretching from Angela Boulevard to Napoleon Boulevard. Phase II is expanding the revitalization efforts across the subsequent three blocks of Eddy Street, from Napoleon to Indiana 23.
Greg Hakanen, Director of Northeast Neighborhood Redevelopment for the University, emphasized the project’s transformative impact: “Massive steps have already been taken to revitalize and regenerate the Northeast Neighborhood for the good of not only the University but the community as well, and this is the last step. Phase II will take the biggest existing negative in the neighborhood and turn it into a major positive.”
Phase II’s design is a result of collaborative input from the University, the city of South Bend, and local residents and business owners. It comprises five primary buildings: two apartment buildings designed for graduate students and the relocated Robinson Community Learning Center on the east side of Eddy Street, and two market-rate apartment buildings on the west side.
To ensure seamless integration with the existing residential fabric, the apartment buildings will gradually step down in height from four stories to three stories as they approach Howard Street, blending harmoniously with the single-family homes in the area. Parking for the market-rate apartments will be conveniently located underground on the west side of Eddy Street, providing space for 145 vehicles.
A key feature of Phase II is the proposed stand-alone grocery store at the southwest corner of Howard and Indiana 23, on the current site of the Robinson Center. The Robinson Community Learning Center, a valuable off-campus educational initiative of the University, will relocate to a new, purpose-built 13,000-square-foot building across the street, ensuring its continued community impact.
Responding directly to requests from local residents and business owners for more neighborhood-oriented businesses, Phase II will incorporate 17 “flex” units in the buildings closest to Napoleon Boulevard. These adaptable street-level units are designed to accommodate either commercial or residential use, depending on community needs and market demand.
These “flex” spaces are envisioned for small, local businesses such as specialty shops, cozy cafes, coffee shops, or professional offices like insurance or law firms, fostering a vibrant and walkable neighborhood atmosphere.
The building situated at the southwest corner of Eddy and Napoleon, diagonally opposite Brothers Bar & Grill, will feature 8,500 square feet of ground-floor restaurant space, further enhancing the dining and social options in the area.
Construction crews have recently commenced work on the graduate-style apartment buildings. Work on the new Robinson Community Learning Center, the stand-alone grocery store, row houses, townhomes, and other mixed-use buildings will follow in due course, ensuring a phased and efficient development process.
Matt Gabet, Senior Vice President of Operational Strategy with Kite Realty, based in Indianapolis, highlighted the cohesive design of the project: “Phase II will complement the look and feel of Phase I and the surrounding neighborhood through its architecture, site design and scale.”
He lauded Notre Dame as an invaluable partner in the Eddy Street Commons venture. “Because of our partnership structure and collective determination, we were able to work through issues, solve problems and deliver the project you see today,” Gabet stated, emphasizing the strength of the collaboration.
Gabet also acknowledged the crucial role of the city of South Bend, which provided essential support with zoning, planning, and financing for both Phase I and Phase II. “Without our third partner, the city of South Bend, both phases would never have gotten off the ground,” he affirmed, underscoring the importance of public-private partnerships in driving urban development. He praised South Bend’s proactive approach to leveraging these partnerships to stimulate investment and growth.
Hakanen commended Kite Realty’s unwavering commitment to Phase I, particularly “through the depths of the 2008-2012 financial crisis and housing crash, which crippled the broader real estate industry.” He added, “It was this extraordinary commitment to the project that made engaging Kite as the developer for Phase II an easy decision,” highlighting the continuity and trust in the partnership.
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg (former Mayor) emphasized the broader economic benefits of the project: “Eddy Street Commons Phase II will build upon Phase I’s success in growing the South Bend economy and strengthening the city’s relationship with Notre Dame. Because the project pays for itself, it is a win-win for Notre Dame, local employers and the South Bend community.”
Eddy Street Commons is part of a larger, collaborative effort involving the University, the city of South Bend, the South Bend Heritage Foundation, the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization (NNRO), and the Northeast Neighborhood Council (NENC). This initiative aims to strategically improve the Northeast Neighborhood through investments in education, housing, and infrastructure.
The University actively supports this neighborhood revitalization through initiatives like the Notre Dame Avenue Housing Program, which assists full-time faculty and staff in becoming homeowners in the area. Furthermore, the NNRO has partnered with the city and the South Bend Heritage Foundation to redevelop The Triangle, a mixed-income housing development situated between Indiana 23 and Eddy Street Commons, featuring 52 single-family homes.
South Bend Heritage and private developers are also contributing to the neighborhood’s resurgence by developing additional housing further west, near the East Bank, replacing vacant lots with new market-rate and affordable single-family houses and townhomes.
Phase II represents the final phase of Eddy Street Commons, with overall completion targeted for mid-2020. The graduate apartments are anticipated to be the first component to open, slated for mid-2019, marking the initial tangible benefits of this phase.
Bill Stenz, President of the Northeast Neighborhood Council, reflected on the positive impact of Phase I and the anticipation for Phase II: “Phase I of Eddy Street Commons far surpassed the expectations residents had. The project brought great excitement and a much-needed commercial district within walking distance for many of us. Phase II will continue this progress.”
