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Southeast Quality of Life <br />Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan <br />Over 90 percent of all dwelling units are in single family detached homes. The <br />boundaries of the neighborhood, established by major arterials, and the <br />infrastructure framework of schools, parks, and local streets continue to support <br />the concept of a viable neighborhood, despite certain negative trends. Housing <br />conditions are mixed, but tend to be most problematic in the northwest corner <br />of the neighborhood and least problematic in the southeast corner of the <br />neighborhood. Many homes were built in the pre -World War II period of the <br />1930s-1950s. Originally well built, they now require substantial reinvestment <br />to extend their useful life. <br />Open spaces and recreational facilities related to the elementary and high <br />school, and the golf course, are a genuine asset. However, they alone do not <br />adequately serve the needs of more remote parts of the neighborhood. The <br />sports fields in the northwest part of the neighborhood will soon be lost to <br />planned institutional development and will diminish recreational opportunities <br />until replaced in some fashion. <br />For the past two years (1993-1994)the Southeast Neighborhood has been the <br />beneficiary of the Christmas in April program, resulting in needed repairs and <br />maintenance to over 80 homes. In addition, the interest and volunteer <br />commitment of thousands of persons from throughout the region have been <br />focused on the neighborhood, and the resulting publicity has been positive. As <br />this program moves on to serve other neighborhoods, the risk is that the <br />momentum it fostered will subside, unless other constructive activities fill the <br />void, beginning in 1995. <br />Causal Factors <br />Factors causing the above conditions and trends fall into two broad categories: <br />factors external to the neighborhood, and factors internal to the neighborhood. <br />External <br />The most significant external factors are those which have influenced most <br />central city neighborhoods --past war economic trends, and migration to the <br />suburbs. The loss of manufacturing jobs is universal, but the closing of the <br />Studebaker plant and other nearby factories severely influenced the social - <br />economic structure of adjacent neighborhoods in South Bend. Concurrently, <br />lifestyles have changed and a large majority of persons, especially families, have <br />adopted more suburban cultures. Clearly, the decline and transition of central <br />business districts has also influenced migration. <br />7 <br />