Downtown area

Drive through the Riverside Drive Historic District and you will be engulfed by the beauty of this neighborhood on the northern edge of downtown. The sparkling river, lush river bank and elegantly designed historic homes are an absolute delight. Plus there are parks on each end and in the middle of the district, and you're within minutes of downtown. Prices in the neighborhood go up to the $350,000 range; however there are still great values closer to $100,000.

Designated a local historic district in 1985, this district partially overlaps the Chapin Park National Register Historic District. The oldest house in the district, the 1890 Queen Anne-style Chapin House was actually moved to 1007 Riverside Drive in 1912. At least three mayors resided here as well as a state legislator. The neighborhood contains a variety of popular residential styles including Queen Anne, Prairie, Colonial Revival and other period revival structures.

The southeast stretch of Riverside Drive attracts a high and diverse concentration of professionals, architects and college professors attracted to the diverse architecture and within walking distance of Notre Dame.

One architect, who grew up on the street and bought a house a block-and-a-half away when he married, has moved back to his childhood home.

"I like the street," he said. "I like the district. It has great views.

"There are increasingly more families with lots of kids on Riverside," he added. "I think it's been very stable. It's an excellent investment. Being on the bluff on the river, it's pretty nice."

Another architect was happy to find a home for sale on the street when he and his wife moved from Minneapolis years ago. "We like being outdoors, seeing neighbors walking, sitting on their porches or working in their yard," he said. "Our house doesn't face anyone else's because we face the river," he added.  "We don't have neighbors across the street."

A woman in the neighborhood, whose husband is also an architect, said the elegant, quiet setting close to downtown appeals to her family. "My husband bought a house on the street when he graduated from school in 1980," she said. "We lived in that house together from 1982 to 1988, and then we moved down the street to yet another beauty. We love being on Riverside and looking across at the river and the vegetation. Everything is so convenient. We love the convenience of city living."

A local historian bought a house here in the 90s. "The neighborhood's a cool little place," he said.

The city started acquiring land for the area known as Leeper Park East from 1895 into the early 1900s when it started using artesian wells instead of standpipes for water service. Leeper was the city's first planned park. In 1911, the city hired notable landscape architect George Kessler to revamp the park

The whole Riverside area was once considered for a park before it was divided into lots for homes.  The riverfront was once organized as Shetterley Park, with three employees, an irrigation system and flower gardens. The third Leeper Bridge, known to some outside the area as the Michigan Street Bridge, was built about 1911, enhancing Riverside development. The northern end of the district features Brownfield Park with its basketball court and playing fields, as well as the southern gateway to the Riverside Trail.

"There aren't too many houses that date prior to 1900," the historian said.  "There's probably a house or two dating to the 1940s. By that time, it was all built up. "You see several different styles of architecture, all in good condition.  There's just a good community pride in preserving all these houses.

"Many of the people have been here for years," another resident said. "We just know each other and get together during holidays and that sort of thing. You're often walking from one park to the other and catching up with people along the way. We enjoy the lifestyle here."

Professionals are especially attracted to the area, with many University of Notre Dame and Indiana University South Bend professors, as well as other educators and at least a half-dozen architects all attracted by the style and grace of the neighborhood. Prices in the neighborhood go up to the $350,000s; however there are excellent values closer to the $100,000 price.

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Department of Community & Economic Development
Division of Community Development
227 W. Jefferson Boulevard • Suite 1200 S
South Bend, IN  46601
574.235.9660 • Fax: 574.235.9469