Common Council approves more downtown affordable housing units

SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- More infill housing units are on their way to South Bend.

The South Bend Common Council approved a 9-year property tax abatement Monday night to build 16 new rental housing units in the form of single family, duplex, and cottage court style housing at West Marion Street and Leland Avenue just northeast of downtown South Bend.

Developers say the nearly $2.5 million project will bring affordable housing to the area, with 12 out of the 16 units being rentals for households earning 120 percent or less of the Area Median Income. They say this should average out to $1,500- $1,600 of rent per month per unit.

"This really will just transform this area," said South Bend Common Councilwoman Rachel Tomas Morgan in the meeting. "It's been vacant for so long, there's overgrown trees, and so just to see these beautiful renderings is really exciting."

Developers hope to get ground moving on the project by July, with families moving in by next spring or summer.