Council approves mixed‑use special exception for Western Avenue redevelopment including daycare and retail

The South Bend Common Council voted to send Bill 65‑25 forward with a favorable recommendation and later adopted the ordinance on third reading, clearing the way for a mixed‑use development on Western Avenue that includes retail and a daycare facility.

Mark Delestritto, the city zoning specialist, said the petition seeks a use variance and a special exception for 628 Western Ave to permit retail/service general use and a daycare center in a blue, mixed‑use building at the northeast corner of the site as part of the larger Western Avenue transformation district. The committee recommended the bill favorably, and the council approved it on roll call.

Sam Lima of Kiel Architecture, the project architect, described the site plan: the blue building is designed as a four‑story structure with an elevator and ground‑floor commercial uses, while surrounding orange and green buildings will be two‑ and three‑story walk‑up apartments. Lima said ground‑floor units will be designed to be accessible and that the project will comply with state fire and egress requirements.

City staff noted the redevelopment commission approved funds for demolition of the vacant Rabbi Shulman building on the site; the demolition contract was out to bid and expected to be awarded in four to six weeks. Staff also said the project is in preliminary stages and will return to the redevelopment commission and council as financing and permits are finalized.

Council members who attended neighborhood meetings praised the planning team for public engagement and said the ground‑floor mixed‑use model with daycare reflects neighborhood preferences. The council’s roll call for the committee recommendation and final adoption both recorded unanimous or near‑unanimous support; no public speakers registered for or against at the hearings.