Construction is underway in South Bend’s Howard Park Neighborhood.

“I am so tickled and delighted that we’re going to get families in here. This is the future,” Howard Park-East Bank Neighborhood Association Spokesperson Karen Schefmeyer smiled.

Schefmeyer said the future looks bright.

Century Builders is working to clear trees, and level land once home to the city of South Bend’s transportation department, now overgrown with weeds and brush.

It’s in preparation to build single family homes, townhouses and apartments along the river.

They will range in price from $200,000- $500,000.

“I think something like this development improves the city itself with people coming in, and it helping businesses. It will help new businesses to start. So I’m excited about it. I’m really glad,” said long time South Bend resident Charles Dunbar.

Schefmeyer said there’s a need to bring market rate housing to the community, to establish a stable tax base.

“This is the future of South Bend to get homes in here to get people buying to pay property taxes, to be a part of this community. It’s huge for us here in Howard Park East Bank,” she explained.

Schefmeyer hopes it will attract families from neighboring cities and get them to invest in a home near downtown South Bend.

“It’s so important to have homeowners here, people who own their places who have a sense of pride, who take care of it, a sense of community,” she said.

Monday evening at 6 o’clock Century Builders will meet with residents at Zion United Church of Christ, to give updates and answer questions about the development.