The City of South Bend, with consultants Opticos Design, Inc. and Incremental Development Alliance, will lead a series of community workshops to develop a neighborhood plan for the Near Northwest Neighborhood Saturday, March 9 – Tuesday, March 12.

Expanding on the ideas discussed at the February kickoff meeting, the four-day workshop will give neighbors and community members multiple opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas with City planners and consultant designers.

A final presentation will be held April 9.

Saturday, March 9

• 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Opening Presentation – setting the stage for the workshop
• 1:00 – 6:30 p.m.: Open Studio – neighbors stop in and tell the design team their ideas

Sunday, March 10

• 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Open Studio – neighbors stop in and tell the design team their ideas
• 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: Walking Tour – walk through a portion of the neighborhood and discuss the future
• 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.: Midpoint Open House – informal review of in-progress drawings

Monday, March 11

• 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Open Studio – neighbors stop in and tell the design team their ideas
• 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: Brown Bag Lunch Talk – economics of neighborhood development (bring lunch from home)

Tuesday, March 12

• 5:00 – 5:40 p.m.*: Wrap-Up Presentation – come see the results of the workshop

*Doors open at 4:45 p.m. The State of the City address was recently announced for the evening of the Wrap-Up Presentation, March 12. The meeting time has been shifted to provide the opportunity for people to attend both events if they wish.

All sessions will be held at the Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. Community Space, 1013 Portage Avenue. Parking is available north of the building and in the parking lot across Portage Avenue.

A neighborhood plan looks at the overall area and uses the community’s vision as a basis to provide a broad framework which identifies principles and concepts for future development and improvements. The framework is intended to serve as a guide to business and property owners, residents, developers, City staff, elected officials, and others in making investment, land use, and design decisions. The Near Northwest Neighborhood is bounded by Lincoln Way West and LaSalle Ave on the South, the railroad tracks (future Coal Line Trail) to the west and north, and the St. Joseph River to the north and east.

For more information visit //www.southbendin.gov/planning-community-resources/ (under the Near Northwest Neighborhood Plan).

Who: City project team members, Opticos Design, Inc., and Incremental Development Alliance, Inc.

What: Near Northwest Neighborhood Plan Four-Day Workshop

When: Saturday, March 9 – Tuesday, March 12

Where: Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. Community Space, 1013 Portage Ave.