No. 2383 contracting the boundaries of the West Washington-Chapin Development Area

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Target Area Development Plans S Highly focused and concentrated action is recommended for the Washington Street and Chapin Street target areas. The Washington Street area occupies a strategic and highly visible location within the neighborhood, and is characterized by the most serious problems of blight, obsolescence and dilapidation. Successful redevelopment of this area will have a major and beneficial impact on the image and reputation of the neighborhood as a whole. The Chapin Street area is also characterized by numerous vacant and deteriorating buildings. Efforts to revitalize this area have been initiated by the South Bend Heritage Foundation, the St. Joseph Health Care Group, and the City of South Bend through its Department of Economic Development. These efforts should be supported and expanded as part of the early action program for the neighborhood. Washington Street Development Plan The Washington Street Development Project Area encompasses the north and south Washington Street block faces, extending back to their respective alleyways, between Chestnut Street on the west and North Elm Street on the east. The area presently includes numerous vacant and under utilized commercial structures near the intersection of Washington and Walnut. It also includes residential structures at each end, some of which have historical significance. The objective of this plan is to expand housing and condense the commercial area along this street. The development concept for the area, which is illustrated in Figure 4, calls for the development of approximately 20,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial space at the intersection of Walnut and Washington together with off-street parking. The remainder of the area would be developed with one and two family residential development. The market overview analysis indicates that growth in the residential population of the neighborhood is necessary before market support for commercial use may exist. Implementation alternatives to be considered include reserving land or buildings for future commercial use, or expanding the area of new residential development to encompass the commercial site. Under the concept, the northeast corner of the Washington/Walnut intersection would be developed as a neighborhood commercial center. The center would include a 10,000 square foot anchor tenant such as a food store or drug store. The center would also include another 10,000 square feet devoted to neighborhood retail and service uses such as doctor's offices, community agencies, bakery, cleaners, ice cream shops, etc. Parking for almost sixty cars would be accommodated on the site. The remainder of the redevelopment program would focus on the rehabilitation of existing commercial and residential structures and the development of new residential units. Approximately 50 to 70 residential units would be constructed throughout the seven block faces. They would be either one or two-family units; they would occupy traditional 40 x 150 foot lots, or be constructed as attached units; and they would re-establish a neighborhood character and streetscape for the area through the introduction of elements found in traditional neighborhoods including elevated porches, fences, gates, windows and a distinction between public and private space. Property acquisition for purposes of rehabilitation and incorporation as part of new development is proposed for property located at the northwest and southwest corners of Washington and Walnut Streets, on the north side of Washington Street at the eastern end of the block between Spruce and Elm Streets, and on the south side of Washington Street encompassing land used for industrial purposes. If it is not 19