What is the story?

Successful urban revitalization doesn’t impose change—it amplifies what’s already there. In Elkhart, transformation begins with the strength of its people, the weight of its history, and the energy of its local spirit. The Freight Street District, a critical link between downtown’s vitality and south Elkhart’s cultural depth, is poised for reinvention. This vision honors the past while delivering bold, community-driven design that prioritizes tangible benefits for residents—spaces to connect, create, and thrive. 

Anchoring the district are two civic cornerstones: the Tolson Community Center for Excellence and the New York Central Railroad Museum. Together, they frame Freight Street as a dynamic spine, weaving together the area’s industrial legacy with its aspirations for cultural exchange and social vitality. Just south, the intersection of South Main and Prairie will emerge as a vibrant node—a mixed-use hub centered on a reimagined Kelby Love mural. For nearly 30 years, this 25-foot icon has stood as a beacon of resilience, embodying Elkhart’s enduring fight against social challenges. Its recreation will anchor new development that speaks directly to the community’s identity. 

Design Intent

The Freight Street District aspires to be a mixed-use destination where past and future converge. This isn’t about erasure—it’s about integration. New buildings and public spaces will reflect the area’s character, fostering inclusivity and activity while ensuring long-term vitality. From the railroad-inspired linearity of Freight Street to the mural-driven energy of South Main and Prairie, the district will stitch together Elkhart’s narrative, creating a place that belongs to its people.

All aboard - Elkhart’s next chapter is ready to roll. 

Methodology

The Smart Block Hyperlocal Overlay Toolkit essentially solves these problems with a functional integration of socioeconomic and life-cycle uses. The overlay is written to allow several typologies of development from a set toolkit on current vacant and abandoned land in targeted areas, allowing the municipality to creatively piece together land and package them to residents and developers on a parcel by parcel basis. These parcels become possibilities for the placement of Smart Blocks, parcel typologies or components created to allow for density, self-sufficiency, power generation, food production, and economic activity on what were previously vacant lots. The Smart Block concept helps to create hyperlocal 15-minute neighborhoods where most physical and physiological human needs are met within and by the neighborhood without the typical large-scale development and land collection required by developers.