New plans in store for union station

St.JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.-- The South Bend Redevelopment Commission has made significant strides with new plans centered around Union Station.

Developer Kevin Smith, who has owned Union Station since 1981, has agreed to sell the historic building to the city of South Bend. The main goal is to return Union Station to its original purpose as a train station.

The commission also approved a $2.43 million investment to facilitate the private sale of a data center currently housed in Union Station. This investment will help move the data center’s administrative offices to a new location: the Claeys Candy building, which is also set to be sold to Smith.

Caleb Bauer, Director of Community Investment for the City of South Bend, explained, “The goal is reactivating the Grand Hall at Union Station, exploring its potential as an Amtrak station location.”

The city is still nailing down a time to start this project.