Eddy Street reopened to traffic on Tuesday, September 1, 2009, and the shops, restaurants and apartment units of Eddy Street Commons will open soon. (WSBT photo)
Story Created:
Sep 1, 2009 at 12:39 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Sep 1, 2009 at 6:23 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND — South Bend city leaders didn’t cut any ribbon Tuesday on Eddy Street. Instead, they moved orange construction cones to reopen the stretch of street after being closed for a year. The move cleared the way, both literally and symbolically, for a new chapter in the city’s near northeast neighborhood comeback.
"We are really delighted to have the new living units, the retail and office space, to be a new front door, if you will, between campus and the city,” said Mayor Steve Luecke.
The $215 million project, a collaboration between South Bend and Notre Dame, is home to 90,000 square feet of retail space, 88,000 square feet of office space, and “The Foundry" — nearly 270 loft and apartment units ranging from $1,100 per month in rent up to $2,600.
Ryan and Michelle Craig are preparing to open their 24-hour gym below.
"Having the residential, the apartments above us, everything they're doing here, being associated with the university and being a part of everything that's changing in the area here,” said Craig. “We think it's a great thing."
Chris Mulloy, Vice President of Development for Kite Realty Group, said between 50 percent and two-thirds of the space at Eddy Commons has been leased. He said the economy hasn’t helped, but they’re still fortunate.
“We're very happy and pleased with the tenants that we do have. We're very excited about the prospects we currently are looking at and with the football weekend arriving and this opening up and people for the first time getting to see what this is, I really think it'll help us generate and push us to the next level on the tenant side of it," said Mulloy.
Kite Realty announced Follet Bookstore will open sometime this month, along with Outpost Sports, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Hot Box Pizza, Five Guys Burgers, and Anytime Fitness.
Old National Bank, Kildare’s Irish Pub, and Fairfield Inn and Suites are also expected to move into the development complex in the next year.
Open in time for Notre Dame’s first home football game of the season: a parking garage with 1,281 spaces.
