In spring 2004, fourth-year students
participating in the South Bend Downtown Design Studio, designed a development
just south of the Notre Dame campus. Called the "Eddy Street Commons" it includes mixed-use structures,
commercial combined with residential, along Eddy Street in the first
block south of Angela Boulevard. (Note: In the years since the students looked at this neighborhood, the University of Notre Dame has partnered with Kite Realty Group to
design and develop a mixed-use community. For more information, please visit Kite Realty Group's Web site.)
Under
the direction of Professor Norman Crowe, students designed the Northeast
Neighborhood Town Commons to connect campus with nearby neighborhoods and
to strengthen the southern edge of Notre Dame's campus. The development
was also designed to formalize one of the entry points to the University.
Students added landscaped medians and parallel parking on the surrounding
streets to slow traffic and encourage people to stop and visit shops and
restaurants.
Among the proposals are new multi-use housing, including apartments
and condominiums, to provide a transition between existing neighborhoods
and the new multi-use district. Several students completed designs for
a "public arts square" just south of the University's new
Performing Arts Center where festivals and farmer's markets could
be held.
The proposals for the Northeast Neighborhood Commons were based on principles of traditional neighborhood design that have been successful and sustainable near other U.S. college campuses.
