Established in 1990, the Airport Economic (Blackthorn) Development Area has provided an environment at the city's far northwest side for new industrial, warehouse and business development. The 3,500-acre economic development area includes immediate access to the South Bend Regional Airport, the Indiana Toll Road and the U.S. 31 Bypass (St. Joseph Valley Parkway).  The city has focused its efforts on building additional infrastructure to stimulate future industrial, office and commercial investment. The centerpiece of the area is the Blackthorn Golf Course.

• View map of Airport Economic Development Area with its history of expansions*
• View the Airport Economic Development Area Plan*

The Airport Economic Development Area includes the following industrial parks:

• Airport Industrial Park Phase I-IV
• Ameriplex Industrial Park
• Bendix Park
• Ameritech Drive Industrial Park
• Beverly Place
• Blackthorn Corporate Office Park
• Blackthorn West
• Cleveland Road Industrial Park
• Crossroads Industrial Park
• H.G Baus International Industrial Centre
• Landmark Industrial Park
• Park One Industrial Park
• Toll Road Industrial Park
• US 31 Industrial Park
• Portage Prairie

On July 20, 2007, the former Sample-Ewing Development Area and LaSalle Square were incorporated into the Airport Economic Development Area.  The Sample-Ewing Development Area had been created as a redevelopment area in 1993 through consolidation and expansion of two previous redevelopment areas: the Studebaker Corridor and Rum Village Industrial Park.  The area contained the historical industrial center of South Bend as well as two adjacent residential neighborhoods.  As industry moved from older, multi-story industrial buildings, many buildings were left vacant or only minimally used.  Decline of the industrial area brought about decline of the adjoining residential neighborhoods.  The plan for the area continues to be multi-faceted and focuses on revitalization of both the Southeast and Rum Village neighborhoods, commercial strip development along Michigan and Main Streets, and industrial development in the Studebaker Corridor, Sample-Indiana Corridor and Rum Village Industrial Park.

LaSalle Square is located on Bendix Drive, two blocks south of the Lincoln Way West-Bendix intersection. LaSalle Square was built as a major shopping center anchored by a supermarket and a Target store, and the development functioned well in this capacity from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. However, in the late 1990s, the LaSalle Square shopping center began to decline as employment fell in the industrial area south of the Square, traffic counts declined and new, big box shopping centers developed in other parts of the South Bend area.  By 2001, more than 80% of LaSalle Square was vacant.  In 2008, a community driven planning process was conducted, resulting in the LaSalle Square Area Redevelopment Plan.  The Plan calls for LaSalle Square to become a vibrant mixed-use development, featuring healthcare, educational, residential, and commercial uses.

• View the LaSalle Square Area Redevelopment Plan*

  *Acrobat Reader required 

Contact

For more information, contact the Department of Community & Economic Development.

Airport Economic Development Area: David Relos, 574.235.5836

Studebaker Corridor / Oliver Plow industrial area: Ann Kolata, 574.235.9374

LaSalle Square: 574.235.9371

Department of Community & Economic Development
Division of Economic Development
227 W. Jefferson Boulevard • Suite 1200 S
South Bend, IN 46601
574.235.9371 • Fax: 574.235.9021