Drive down East Colfax Avenue and you'll see it. A 170-foot tower crane now stands over the East Bank Village, marking the start of vertical construction on Three Twelve at The Cascade.
The eight-story building is the second phase of The Cascade riverfront condo project, next to the sold-out first phase. 95.3 MNC reported that it will have 22 condominium units, office space and amenities including a fitness center, a club room and heated underground parking. Developers say nearly half the units are reserved, with first move-ins expected in late 2027.
WSBT put the price tag at $50 million and called it one of several major investments underway along South Bend's East Bank.
Owners, not renters
Thomas Panzica, president of Panzica Building Corporation, made the case for the project to WSBT.
"Unlike apartments where people rent and they can come and go at will, and unlike Airbnb type projects that are transient, our project is attracting people who are investing major dollars into living in downtown South Bend and contributing to our economy," Panzica said.
He said the first floor is expected to house three businesses, with two more floors holding commercial suites. "It'll be a true mixed-use building with a combination of residential condos and commercial spaces with amenities that will benefit not only our residents but the East Bank neighborhood and the downtown as a whole," he said.
Demand has been strong, according to the project's lead broker, Tommy Kraemer. "So, there's been a ton of demand thus far," he told WSBT, pointing to the revitalization of the East Race and downtown, the proximity to the University of Notre Dame, and the fact that "there is no building like this in town."
Panzica also sees help coming from Notre Dame's planned Colfax Corner project, two blocks away in the former South Bend Tribune building. "When those people come to town, many of them are looking for the sort of downtown walkable lifestyle that we're offering here," he said.
Built like the first phase
Panzica Building Corporation has done this before, right next door. On its website, the South Bend firm says it was involved in developing Phase 1, Three Twenty at The Cascade, and designed and built it using progressive design-build and integrated project delivery. That first building is a seven-story, 82,800-square-foot structure of post-tensioned, cast-in-place concrete, glass and steel, with six levels of condos over a restaurant level and an underground parking garage.
The project's marketing site describes The Cascade as built of reinforced concrete, glass, aluminum and steel, with 8-inch concrete slabs and non-combustible steel stud framing. Neither WSBT nor 95.3 MNC spelled out the construction contract for Phase 2, so while Panzica is clearly leading the project, we haven't seen the general contractor confirmed in writing.
The neighborhood is getting a facelift, too. Panzica acknowledged construction can be frustrating for people in the area, but said it will be worth the detours. "When this is done, it will be a beautiful street. It will have a beautiful new bridge," he said. "So, everything around us will be new infrastructure, and that bodes well not only for the East Bank but for downtown, that things are happening in South Bend, and we're on the move."
Developers told WSBT that residents can expect to see the building rise over the coming months, with an opening targeted by the end of 2027. For neighbors, that means more than a year of trucks, deliveries and crane picks on a busy riverfront block.
Why it matters for Contractors
A tower crane in South Bend is a sign of steady work ahead. An eight-story building with heated underground parking means jobs for excavation and foundation crews and the full set of MEP trades. If Phase 2 follows the concrete-and-glass approach described for The Cascade, add concrete formers and finishers, rebar crews, glazing installers and steel stud framers. With 22 condos aimed at buyers spending "major dollars," finish carpenters, tile setters, cabinetmakers and high-end flooring installers should see quality work inside, plus build-outs for three ground-floor businesses and two floors of commercial suites. And with Notre Dame's Colfax Corner two blocks away and new streets and a bridge going in nearby, the East Bank is shaping up as one of northern Indiana's busier construction neighborhoods.