History of the NNN

In 1974 neighbors got together to discuss the formation of an association to promote and stabilize homeownership in the near northwest neighborhood of South Bend. They formed the South Bend Homeowners of the Near Northwest, Inc. In 1994 the neighborhood association was transformed into a Community Development Corporation, with an executive director, paid staff members and the ability buy homes it could rehabilitate and resell.

Some of the NNN's accomplishments during the first 20 years include preventing the widening of Portage Avenue, publishing the first neighborhood newsletter, planting 230 trees in tree lawns, working with the city to rezone the area south of California Street to prevent single-family homes from being converted into apartments, beginning an extensive program of coordinating rehabs of housing and opening NNN's first office in a rehabilitated house at 510 N. Cushing.

Since becoming a Community Development Corporation NNN has continued its renovation program with the revitalization of the neighborhood's housing through the Cushing Street Revitalization Project and the Portage Avenue Demonstration Block in addition to other houses throughout the neighborhood.

The building currently housing the NNN, Inc was purchased as the neighborhood landmark Minkler's Hardware closed its doors in 1997. In 1999, after extensive interior and exterior renovations this building became the home of NNN, Inc. Immediately prior to renovating the Minkler building NNN's offices had been located in another renovated house at 1215 Lincolnway West.

In addition to purchasing, rehabbing and reselling area homes NNN continues with activities such as planning and sponsoring alley clean ups, zoning remonstrances, and neighborhood watch groups,

The Near Northwest Neighborhood is located between Lincolnway West and LaSalle Streets on the south, the St. Joseph River on the east and north, Wilber Street and Penn Central Railroad on the west. Nearly 6,000 residents live in the area, which contains over 2,500 structures.