The site in this case, as in all sites in their context. After working in large urban developments for years, it was an opportunity to participate in the revitalization of small towns in the American Midwest. Forming a new development company with partnership group, we embarked on bringing Class A multi-family buildings in the American Midwest. Proposing modernist architectural design to the residents and city councils in these towns accustomed to traditional elements like pediments and moldings took convincing. But we succeeded to reframe their mindset from that point on.
Like many American towns, main street had been abandoned for the outskirts and the suburbs. We were given the choice of city owned sites in the town center and were charged with developing a project that would become a landmark reinvigorating the downtown shops and restaurants while attracting people to once again live walking distance from them. No new multi-family buildings had been built anywhere in the area for over twenty years. We were the first to take that step introducing a new building type for them and making the market. Today, there are approximately 1,800 new apartment units, retail establishments, coffee shops and restaurants in downtown Mishawaka. In 2024 the City and Police Department relocated there in a newly renovated and expanded office building.
