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NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATION PLANWeed & Seed ProgramSouth Bend, IndianaPage 18The LaSalle Park Neighborhood contains attractive lots for new housingVacant LotsSites for new construction are limited in the Westside and St. Casimir’s neighborhoods. LaSalle Park, however, contains approximately 180 vacant lots. These lots could be used for new housing construction in order to provide opportunities for existing residents to upgrade into new homes and opportunities for the neighborhood to attract new residents.Soil conditions in the LaSalle Park Neighborhood, however, limit construction activity. As the diagram indicates, a vein of “muck” soils runs through the neighborhood. Muck soil is a soil type composed of decaying materials. As such, it has very limited bearing capacity which makes it unsuitable for construction. Muck soils literally move out from underneath structures causing foundations to fail. Alternative construction techniques, such as pilings or caissons, can be used to anchor foundations on bedrock. Unfortunately, this technique usually proves cost prohibitive for conventional housing construction.NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONSNEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONSNEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONSAssuming, though, that 50% of these lots are buildable, and that double lot widths would be encouraged for new construction, this represents a significant opportunity to rebuild and strengthen the area. As many as 45 new homes could be built in the neighborhood. Ownership and upkeep of vacant lots that are not buildable must be addressed too. Many vacant lots are overgrown and need to be cleared and maintained. Where lots are unbuildable, they should be split and given to adjoining owner-occupied housing residents, free of additional property tax assessment, in exchange for upkeep.Muck soil limits construction in some areas of the LaSalle Park NeighborhoodSHERIDAN ST.