The land, located on Locust Street, were offered at a steeply reduced price of $120,000, by Valparaiso University to Project Neighbors, an organization that creates affordable housing options by building and renovating local properties. This transaction gives Project Neighbors a powerful opportunity to fulfill their mission for more of the Valparaiso community. A new 2026 project was just completed called “The Crossing.”
“Our intention is to develop permanently affordable housing—specifically, four duplexes—on these parcels to serve families who are often priced out of the current market,” said Carmen Vincent ’20, executive director for Project Neighbors. “With land costs at just $15,000 per unit, this project becomes financially feasible in a way that few developments are.”
Founded in 1969 as the Valpo Builders Association between Walt Reiner, Valparaiso University faculty, and members of the community, Project Neighbors has dedicated over 100,000 hours of volunteer services to the construction and renovation of over 100 properties. During that time, members of the Valpo campus community have played various roles in the organization’s mission.
“Many of our board members are Valparaiso University alumni and professors,” said Vincent. “For this specific initiative, we’re excited to once again connect with campus leaders on how the University can support community-based solutions to housing insecurity.”
“The University respects the mission of Project Neighbors and was excited to be able to provide property that it was not using to move forward an initiative that supports affordable housing the the City,” said Mark Volpatti Ed.D., CPA, senior vice president for finance and administration at Valparaiso University.
Vincent, a student at Christ College — the Honors College at Valparaiso University has brought Valpo’s core values into her own servant-leadership role.
“I was taught to wrestle with big questions and lean into service-driven work—values that align deeply with Project Neighbors’ mission,” Vincent said. “Being able to return as a community partner and collaborate with the university in a new capacity feels like a full-circle moment. It’s also a hopeful one: it shows what’s possible when institutions invest in their communities not just with words, but with tangible action.”
Site plans for the Locust Street parcels are currently being developed, with construction on the new living spaces planned to begin after the organization’s current projects Nickel Plate and Axe Avenue are completed next year. For more information on project neighbors, see their website here.
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
