South Bend’s apartment building boom shows no signs of slowing down.

There are now $3 million plans to take a long time commercial property (on South Main Street near Western Avenue) and convert it into 12 to 16 apartment units.

“This is one of those places that, I mean, you can imagine folks who are frequenters of the library, are frequenters of some of the establishments on the southern portion of downtown, the restaurants, the ballfield, things like that, you know, this is a prime location,” said Brian Pawlowski, Acting Director of South Bend’s Community Investment Department.

In the past, the three story “Hibberd” building at 321 S. Main housed everything from a printing shop to a computer store.

“Just like a lot of the other entrepreneurs that have come forward this year, they’ve looked at a building and really seen a different vision, and they want 12 to 16 apartment units in it, maybe some rooftop public and residential space where people can kind of relax lounge around,” said Pawlowski.

Although the city stands to gain new apartments, it stands to lose a long-time downtown car lot.

Gates Downtown now leases the land to the south of the Hibberd Building from the city.

The city is being asked to sell the property to the apartment developers for $1 as its contribution to the project.

“The car lot, I think, will serve to compliment the building either in parking for a short term and maybe a different vision for the future,” Pawlowski said.

The proposal will go before South Bend’s Redevelopment Commission at a meeting scheduled for Thursday morning.

The project is being lead by a man with a familiar face. So familiar that Mark Neal had to file a conflict of interest disclosure form. Neal served as South Bend's Acting Mayor when Pete Buttigieg was called into active military duty. Neal currently chairs the city's park board.