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1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />-2- 10/3/80 <br />History of Project Area <br />The East Race of the St. Joseph River played an <br />important role in the early development of <br />South Bend as an industrial city. Originally <br />constructed in the 1840's, the raceway provided <br />hydraulic power to local industries such as the <br />Singer Corporation and the A.C. Stanley Manu- <br />facturing Corporation. The East Race served a <br />' <br />useful function for over one hundred years until <br />it was filled in during the 1950's and 1960's. <br />The memory of the race did not fade with its <br />destruction. City residents, community groups, <br />business leaders and public officials began to <br />investigate ways of reopening the race to provide <br />recreational opportunities. The concept of <br />reopening the race was formally proposed in the <br />"St. Joseph River Corridor Study" prepared by <br />Lawson Associates in 1973. In that study recom- <br />mendations were made to improve the riverfront <br />throughout the central area of South Bend, pro - <br />viding parks and pedestrian ways along the river's <br />path. At that time, the study suggested a re -use <br />of existing structures in th- East Bank Area, <br />along with compatible new construction, to create <br />a predominately residential community with a mix <br />of businesses and offices connected by a system <br />of green spaces and pedestrian ways. <br />Since that time the City of South Bend, through its <br />Department of Redevelopment and Division of Planning, <br />has been continuing this study and looking into <br />existing conditions and land utilization in the Area. <br />This Development Plan is the culmination of those <br />efforts and sets forth the City's goals and plans <br />' <br />for the re- emergence of the East Bank Area as a <br />more vital part of South Bend. <br />1 <br />1 <br />-2- 10/3/80 <br />