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Southeast Quality of Life <br />Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan <br />Nonetheless, the neighborhood's overall character remains strong. Although in <br />the past ten years the number of single family homes has decreased by almost <br />300 homes, single family homes still comprise over 80% of the neighborhood. <br />Many homes have well maintained yards and gardens. Further, mature trees <br />and vegetation are found throughout significantly enhancing the neighborhood's <br />character. To -date, homes in the neighborhood maintain a consistent scale; <br />there are no disproportionately large apartments or developments to create <br />visual discontinuity. <br />Streets and sidewalks, although in need of surface repairs, extend throughout <br />the neighborhood and are well established. The many churches within the <br />neighborhood contribute to the visual image of the neighborhood. The network <br />of churches not only serves as an aesthetic amenity, but also serves as an <br />anchor of strength for the neighborhood through social and cultural networks, <br />and provision of local services. <br />Causal Factors <br />Population Loss <br />Demographic changes have influenced current trends within the -neighborhood. <br />Since 1960 the City of South Bend's population has decreased by 26%; the <br />neighborhood's population during the same time frame decreased by almost <br />50%. During the late 1 970's and early 1980's over 30% of the population was <br />lost due to the clearance of housing stock in a portion of the neighborhood to <br />accommodate a proposed nursing home complex that was never built. During <br />the 1 980's, the neighborhood's declining population continued to outpace the <br />City's as more homes were abandoned. From 1980 to 1990, the City of South <br />Bend's total population decreased by 3.8%; the Southeast neighborhood's <br />population during the same period decreased 16.8 %. From 1980 to 1990, the <br />number of persons 65 and over in the neighborhood decreased by over 50%. <br />The number of lower income, single parent households has substantially <br />increased over the past two decades. These population changes coupled with <br />the decrease in available single family housing stock and the 24% decrease in <br />owner -occupancy homes has resulted in disinvestment in the neighborhood. <br />We <br />