Notre Dame buys former South Bend Tribune offices
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The University of Notre Dame has acquired the former South Bend Tribune offices, signaling another key investment in downtown South Bend.
Notre Dame officials announced in a news release Tuesday that the university had acquired a portion of the building which aligns with the institution’s goals laid out in a 2023 strategic framework document.
In it, officials write that “for Notre Dame to thrive, the South Bend region must also prosper.”
A university spokesperson declined to comment on how much Notre Dame spent in purchasing its portion of the building or about how much it plans to invest in the offices which, in its oldest portion, dates back to the 1920s.
Notre Dame officials did not specifically state what the building would be used for, but did write in the release that the university’s strategic framework “calls for meaningful investments in science and engineering.”
“Never before has the University been more engaged with key stakeholders throughout the region,” Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan said. “With the strength of partnerships at the local and state level, the growth of leading local industries and a shared regional vision, there is tremendous momentum in the community. We hope that a collaborative project in downtown South Bend will create a destination and a catalyst to propel the region’s momentum further, especially via this notable venue.”
Notre Dame’s announcement comes just weeks after the city of South Bend announced the launch of a new downtown visioning process. The effort will be assisted by Pittsburgh-based urban planning company Urban Design Associates, and community meetings aligned with the process are expected to begin in January.
The former Tribune building sits notably at the northeast corner of Colfax Avenue and Lafayette Boulevard downtown. It has been vacant since 2019, when the Tribune’s local owners, Schurz Communications, sold the newspaper and its new ownership moved operations out of the building.
Schurz Communications, which retained ownership of the building, sold its printing press building that sits directly north of the former newspaper offices to South Bend City Church in July 2022 for $1 million. The church has been renovating the building and plans to have its first services there in the spring.
“We are delighted that the University of Notre Dame will renew and redevelop the South Bend Tribune’s historic home for the benefit of the broader community,” former Schurz Communications President and CEO Todd Schurz said.
The announcement comes following a series of recent private investments in downtown South Bend expected to bring more than 500 new housing units to the area. Notre Dame officials say they’re committed to working with the city as it develops a comprehensive downtown plan.
“The University of Notre Dame’s commitment to the greater South Bend region is as strong as ever, and we’re thrilled to advance our shared vision of a thriving community with more opportunities for all,” South Bend Mayor James Mueller said in the news release. “This historic investment in the heart of our downtown will accelerate our growth and help us win in the innovation and knowledge-based economy of the future.”