South Bend to Welcome New Senior Housing Development
Ground was recently broken on a new affordable housing community in the northern Indiana city of South Bend.
By Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Writer
South Bend, Ind.—Ground was broken in the first week of December on a new affordable housing community in the northern Indiana city of South Bend. Designed for those 55 and older, Heritage Place at LaSalle Square will feature 72 one- and two-bedroom apartment homes, and is expected complete in November of next year.
Different apartment homes at Heritage Place at LaSalle Square will be available to older adults with incomes at or below 30, 40, 50 and 60 percent of Area Median Income. The community is being developed by Sterling Development, constructed by Sterling Construction Corporation and managed by Sterling Management, all of which are affiliated with Mishawaka, Ind.-based Sterling Group. It is to be owned by Heritage Place at La Salle Square LP, whose partners include Memorial Hospital of South Bend and National Equity Fund.
“The financing is being provided by Bank of America, National Equity Fund and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority,” Scott Buckey, vice president of construction for Sterling Construction Corporation, tells MHN.
“We’re tax credit developers, and we saw an opportunity here. There definitely is a need for senior housing in South Bend.”
The 1.92-acre parcel that will be the site of Heritage Place at LaSalle Square was donated by the South Bend Redevelopment Commission. It sits at the corner of Bendix Dr. and Ardmore Trail on South Bend’s west side.
“The site had been a vacant lot,” Buckey says. “It was approved without much problem. The land was originally donated by South Bend to its redevelopment commission. The city was supportive of the project, as was the neighborhood steering committee. That committee wanted to be involved in the choice of the exterior façade. They wanted a quality look.”
Heritage Place at LaSalle Square is to be built in accordance with the Bronze certification of the National Green Building Standard.
Energy Star heating and air conditioning, dishwashers, refrigerators, ceiling fans and windows will be featured. Also included in all apartment homes will be emergency pull cords or call buttons, an intercom system, and high-speed Internet access.
Community amenities will include an exercise room, beauty salon, community room, library and laundry facility. A garden area will be offered for residents’ use. Residential programming and the coordination of social services and monthly activities will be provided by Memorial Hospital of South Bend.
The building itself is four stories tall, and is to be of wood construction with brick and vinyl facades. “It will be within walking distance to public transportation,” Buckey says. “And it is located immediately east of the St. Joseph County Public Library . . . I think South Bend will benefit from another senior community, particularly given that it is an affordable community.”
