An abandoned building in South Bend’s Near Northwest neighborhood may be getting a new lease on life soon.

The Ward Baking Company Building has been abandoned for 12 years. WSBT reports that a group of owners are turning it into a “collaborative village” for the neighborhood.

The 100 year-old structure needs a lot of internal work before it’s ready to begin anew as the Portage Place building, an open space for professional and creative services to work together.

The Near Northwest Neighborhood Organization had hoped to turn the building into affordable senior apartments, but that effort didn’t gain traction.

No timetable has been announced.