Near East Side

Sunnymede, including the East Wayne Street Historic District, lies south of Jefferson Boulevard and east of Eddy Street. This is a large neighborhood with a series of sections developed from the 1920s to the 1950s. A wide range of home styles, sizes and pricing make this one of South Bend's most popular neighborhoods. "This means that people can start in Sunnymede, move up in Sunnymede and downsize in Sunnymede," said a local real estate agent who has sold a large number of homes in the neighborhood.

Developers Leslie Whitcomb and Frederick Keller used ideas from landscape architects, such as Frederick Law Olmstead, with curved streets, open spaces and plenty of trees when they started the development. Part of the first section of Sunnymede was designated as the East Wayne Street Local Historic District in 1987.

Sunnymede is close to Mishawaka Avenue businesses, an expanded River Park Library, Potawatomi Park and Zoo and a few short blocks from Howard Park and the river. Within easy walking distance of the neighborhood are two Catholic elementary schools, private Trinity School and numerous churches.

And downtown is a not-too-ambitious stroll.

"That's why my family chose the neighborhood when we moved from North Carolina in 1993," said one resident.  "It's close to Trinity School, which my kids attended, and close to downtown.

"Not to mention that the tree-lined sidewalks and stately old homes remind me of my Southern roots."

"I love the sidewalks," agreed another homeowner. "It's the same type of neighborhood I grew up in."

Some who moved away are coming back.

"We moved to Granger and moved back to Sunnymede," said a local attorney, whose law office is on nearby Mishawaka Avenue. "We did it because our children continued to go to school at Adams High School. I think things are more convenient.

"From Sunnymede, you can go to the store and be there in 5 minutes."

Another couple looked for a house in Sunnymede for more than a year when they decided to move back to the city from Granger.

"We used to drive up and down to see if there was anything for sale," the wife said. "We wanted to live in this neighborhood, actually. We liked the sense of community and the fact that neighbors seem to know each other and look after each other. Houses down here have character."

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Community Development
224 W. Jefferson Boulevard • Suite 100
South Bend, IN  46601
574.235.9660 • Fax: 574.235.9697