Farmers Market District
February 1, 2022William Street Seam
A Design Study for the Urban Edge of Downtown South Bend, IN
Published in May 2021
Case Study Overview
William Street divides the western edge of downtown South Bend and the eastern edge of the Near West neighborhood. After decades of disinvestment and neglect, this street, once lined with 18th and 19th century homes, has been reduced to large swaths of vacant and underutilized land. This case study was chosen as the subject for the first Dean’s Charrette because it illustrates the physical, social, and economic benefits of a seamless reconnection between the neighborhoods of South Bend and its downtown. The case study proposes a vision, process, and implementation approach that would promote the area’s urban regeneration and help establish the impression and reality that downtown South Bend can once again become a reliable place to live, work, and invest.
Proposed Masterplan
This case study envisions the redevelopment of the William Street Seam as a traditional mixed-use, compact, diverse, and walkable neighborhood. The ingredients of this neighborhood with its infrastructure, public spaces, streetscape, and buildings are precious financial resources and unique cultural assets in themselves.
The addition and integration of new projects into this setting would heal the current image and reality of disinvestment on the west side of downtown South Bend. It would also expand the vibrancy of the Near West neighborhood, making it a more desirable residential option for people wishing to live an urban life.
Transitioning into Downtown
This plan introduces key changes to the north side, starting at William and LaSalle. William Street itself, from LaSalle to Wayne Street, becomes a safer and more beautiful boulevard.
A new planted median with trees runs down the center of the street, calming traffic. New three-story buildings line these four blocks.
These buildings feature ground-floor retail, like shops and cafes, bringing new life to the sidewalk. The upper floors contain apartments and offices. This design creates a natural transition from the nearby single-family homes to the larger buildings of downtown.
Building Types
A wide variety building types were designed to accommodate a range of different living situations, including recent graduates, families with children, singles, and seniors. These types include both rental and ownership options. While traditional in form and appearance, each of the types includes all the amenities expected in contemporary new construction, such as plans that are open and flow from living to dining to kitchen, bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, main floor laundry, and rooms sized for contemporary lifestyles.
Multiple versions of detached homes were included to fit a variety of lot widths and configurations. Options include three- and four-bedroom single-family homes. They also include several multi-unit housing types, including side-by-side and stacked duplexes, three- and four-unit apartments, and larger multiplex buildings with six or more units. They are all designed to fit within the context of the existing neighborhood and can be placed on lots interchangeably to achieve the desired density of housing. These multi-unit types fit into the category of “missing middle” housing—a range housing options between the single-family and the large apartment complex — types once common in American cities, including South Bend.
New Market Hall
At the southern end of William Street, between Wayne and Western, the road divides to create a new public block. A new general market hall is built here, creating a clear focal point for the neighborhood.
New two- and three-story mixed-use buildings line this part of William Street, framing the new market hall. This new civic space and its surrounding buildings mark William Street as an important center for the near west side.
View and Download the Full William Street Seam Report
View the full case study report in detail with high-resolution images and complete recommendations.
