Council OKs rezoning and special exception to convert 431 Dundee Street into four-unit housing

The Common Council of the City of South Bend adopted an ordinance (Bill 47-25) rezoning 431 Dundee Street from Urban Neighborhood 1 (UN1) to Urban Neighborhood 2 (UN2) and granting a special exception to permit conversion of the existing building to a four-unit dwelling.

City zoning staff told the council the structure, formerly a church and later a duplex, will need exterior work to meet U2 frontage requirements — either a porch or stoop — plus street trees, a residential walkway and upgrades to rear parking accessed by the alley. Zoning Administrator Bridal Gillan said renderings include a landscaping plan and a rear parking pad; permitted windows are already in place.

Petitioner Stefan Bresiak, who said he lives on North Saint Louis Boulevard, told the council he plans to complete exterior renovations quickly if approved; he estimated 30 to 45 days to finish the exterior work and said a South Bend–based property manager will handle upkeep.

Council members pressed the petitioner on parking and timeline. Vice President Thomas Morgan asked for the renovation timeline; Bresiak said the project would likely be finished this year if approved. Councilmember Gooden Rogers asked whether the plan would rely on on-street parking; the petitioner said the rear alley pad would accommodate about six spaces in addition to on-street spaces.

A motion to send Bill 47-25 to the full council with a favorable recommendation passed in Committee of the Whole and, at third reading, the full council adopted the ordinance with a roll-call vote recorded as 9 ayes.

The ordinance was returned to the file for implementation and code compliance review; staff said the conversion must be brought up to code prior to occupancy.