Elkhart contracts with Notre Dame center for preapproved housing schematics, $12,000

The City of Elkhart approved a $12,000 contract with the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Housing and Regeneration to create schematic, preapproved house plans meant to speed infill housing development.

Mike Huber, development services director, said the program models efforts in other cities and aims to provide builders with preapproved schematic drawings and permit guidance. “We’re working with the University of Notre Dame ... they’re the group that kind of helped facilitate the Benham neighborhood plan,” Huber said, explaining the Center will produce schematic designs that a local architecture firm can later convert into full construction drawings.

Under the approach, builders would pay a single fee to access plans and required permit information, submit applications, and schedule inspections during construction. Huber said the schematic phase helps confirm lot-compatible sizes and lot-boundary fits before full plans are produced.

The board voted to approve the schematic-design contract and Huber said the architectural build-out will be a separate contract handled through the redevelopment commission.