GREAT CITIES DO NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT
CREATING PLACE AND PROSPERITY REQUIRES PATIENCE
“We were a test bed for what the smart streets initiative in South Bend was turning out,” Sam Centellas said.
“Western had
two lanes in each direction. For that pop-up event weekend, we went to one lane
in each direction with a center turn lane.
Now it’s
permanent with one car lane each way, a center turn lane and on-street parking
for the merchants.”
The
NAR-funded event transformed the corridor with wider sidewalks, bike lanes,
landscaping, live music, food vendors and a beer garden with outdoor seating.
According to
an NAR Success Story article, retired South Bend Area REALTORS® CEO Myron
Larimer concluded that “The Better Block Program pulled the local business
community together and showed the city the area’s potential.”
Street and
sidewalk improvements took place in three $2.5-million phases in 2015, 2016 and
2019.
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