University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana
College Town Master Plan

The University of Notre Dame was conceived of as a citadel of higher learning. The campus was intentionally located on the outskirts of South Bend, Indiana so that students would be away from the distractions of community life and could focus on their studies. This format served the University well for many years. However, more recently, the University experienced a series of problems associated with its isolation. These problems included: 1) no convenient commercial services near the campus; 2) no restaurants to go to after sporting or cultural events; and 3) difficulty in recruiting new faculty who wanted a walk-to or bike-to campus location. Furthermore, while the campus was originally located in an isolated setting, a lower-income residential neighborhood expanded outward from South Bend to form the southern boundary of the campus. This neighborhood presented problematic off-campus housing options for students as well as unsavory drinking establishments.

The University decided to improve its community context and retained Camiros to prepare a master plan. It was decided to transform the adjacent Southeast Neighborhood into an asset by sponsoring redevelopment that would make the neighborhood the “college town” area for Notre Dame. By doing this, the University would take control of how it relates to the adjacent community. In the process, Notre Dame sought to provide amenities for students, faculty and alumni as well as enhance its own image.

The master planning process required careful dialogue and interaction with the residents and property owners of the Southeast Neighborhood. Although there are often benefits that accrue to living near a college campuses, universities are frequently accused of throwing their weight around when it comes to land use and development policies affecting adjacent neighborhoods. In this case, the neighborhood was a lower-income minority neighborhood, which required greater sensitivity.

Camiros adeptly conducted a community planning process that resulted in a master plan that achieved both University and resident goals. The master plan was endorsed by the Southeast Neighborhood Commission, the University and the City of South Bend. Key elements of the plan included:

• A development program for new housing including single-family, townhouse and apartment dwelling types.
  
  
• A program of commercial and mixed-use redevelopment that was pedestrian-oriented and market responsive.
  
  
• The realignment of a state highway, which resolved a long-standing traffic congestion problem and created a new commercial development site possessing regional prominence.
  
  
• Urban design standards for architecture and streetscape that established the desired image and character for new development projects.

The master plan created a long-term program for redevelopment and neighborhood improvement. The first significant redevelopment project has already been initiated. The development, known as Eddy Street Commons and undertaken by the Kite Realty Group of Indianapolis, Indiana, was based directly on redevelopment plans prepared by Camiros. Once completed and occupied, the development will serve as a catalyst for new private sector investment, relieving the University of the responsibility of driving the redevelopment process.

Mixed-use development, Eddy Street Commons, is the first development project within the College Town neighborhood redevelopment area. This area is currently under construction with openings planned for the fall of 2009.

For information about the Eddy Street Commons development progress please visit Kite Realty's website: eddycommons.com.