Triangle development gives neighborhood a second chance

May 18, 2012|By John Paul | WSBT-TV Reporter

SOUTH BEND – Marguerite Taylor has lived in the Northeast Neighborhood all her life. She said the area including Georgiana, Napoleon and Duey streets was a place people used to avoid.

That's not the case anymore.

A place where you'd once find abandoned homes – condos are now for sale. Streets that people used to avoid are busy with walkers, diners and people enjoying the neighborhood.

No longer a shell of its former self, the area known as the Triangle between State Road 23 and Eddy Street Commons is experiencing a renaissance – especially with the development of 52 brand new single-family homes.

"Within the city limits, this is unique," said Tim Sexton, president of the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization organization. "It's exciting, it's really exciting."

- 45 of the 52 lots have been sold.

- 2 are under various stages of construction.

- 70 percent of the 52 lots will be sold to any buyer.

The other 30 percent will be sold to people who meet certain income guidelines…and they are still responsible for securing their own funding to purchase their lots, which vary in price from $20,000 to $30,000.

The total cost of construction is expected to be between $130,000 to $360,000.

"This is bringing single-family ownership back to this community," said Sexton.

"I pass this way every day," said Taylor. "I don't need to come this way, I come because I want to look at the development."

"This is really becoming a connector of the south of the university's campus to Eddy Street Commons to downtown South Bend, which I really think is exciting," said Sexton.

Taylor said it's not the neighborhood she grew up in or the neighborhood her children grew up in.

"That's correct," Taylor said. "It's better."

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