MIchigan City Development Thread! |
MIchigan City Development Thread! |
Mar 3 2015, 01:29 PM
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#1
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Getting Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 42 Joined: 22-January 13 Member No.: 1,242 |
I think that we should have a thread where we can keep track of and discuss projects that are under construction, planned or proposed for the city. We can also exchange ideas about what types of developments Michigan City needs to attract to be competitive in the region. I am sort of a development nerd and the idea comes from 'Skyscraperpage' where the site is devoted to major construction projects from around the world.
Current projects and proposals: Michigan City Police Station Lifeworks Business Park Construction on South Franklin Realignment of Washington and Pine New activities center/pavilion at Washington Park U.S. 421 Overpass U.S. 12 bridge Franklin Street Bridge LMGIS Art Space Proposed "up-scale" hotel for North End Former Memorial Hospital Site Trail Creek Corridor Beautification of Nipsco Cooling Tower Nipsco "Scrubber" NICTD Track Realignment We have a lot of development in the works. I've always felt that Michigan City is a sleeping giant that has the potential to dominate the region. We have had multiple developers envision high-rises and mid-rises in the city at various locations. I can remember back in 2006-2007 a developer from Chicago wanted to demolish Galveston Steakhouse and erect a 13 story "S" shaped condo on the site before the economy collapsed. Another developer proposed two 20 story condo/hotel buildings for the former Memorial Hospital site and Lohan-Anderson recommended 3-24 story condos for Trail Creek next to Blue Chip. The possibilities are endless but the city must rid itself of the terrible NIMBY'ism which harms our growth. I hope to hear of other projects in the city that people have knowledge of that I am unaware of and welcome even rumors. For instance, I have a friend with ties to sources in the city and he has stated that they are working towards Marquette Mall being demolished with the city claiming emanate domain. Whether it is substantial I don't know but it is certainly conceivable and necessary. He also claimed that the mall doubled the rent of Applebee's and that is why they exited the city. I hope Michigan City does not work to just become Valparaiso redux which I fear is the idea. Michigan City has a unique opportunity to become more South Bend like with major developments. We have almost double the Sq. Mileage of Valpo and La Porte. The problem is Michigan City is largely underdeveloped. We have large swaths of land primed for mixed use projects. Cleveland Ave. for one has the potential to be even more prominent with a greater density than Franklin Street yet it has attracted no interest from what I can glean. The sign for "Cleveland Crossing" has been up for 8-10 years. I would also like to see Michigan City attract more authentic ethnic restaurants and other businesses to give more of a big city feel by offering something for everyone and widening the demographics rather than just being a high-end mono-cultural boutique city like Valpo. A market research company suggested Michigan City also attract a college campus somewhere downtown to give a "university feel" to the North End. Either PNC, Ivy Tech or I.U. That would be an excellent idea to bolster growth. |
Mar 5 2015, 03:05 PM
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#2
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Really Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 2,006 Joined: 6-July 09 From: In Front of a computer screen Member No.: 929 |
There is talk about tearing down the old Chrysler dealership at 11th and Michigan Boulevard. We purchased a home in that area which I am renovating.
I watched the Ministerial candidates forum on ALCO and one of the council candidates expressed their concern that there is a dire need of a full service grocery store on the eastside of Michigan City which hasn't existed along the Michigan Boulevard corridor since SuperSave Foods (formally K&M) in Eastgate Plaza went bankrupt. That would be a great location for a grocery store for the residents of that area, either a 3rd Al's location or bring in a chain like Martin's. |
Mar 9 2015, 12:57 AM
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#3
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Getting Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 42 Joined: 22-January 13 Member No.: 1,242 |
There is talk about tearing down the old Chrysler dealership at 11th and Michigan Boulevard. We purchased a home in that area which I am renovating. I watched the Ministerial candidates forum on ALCO and one of the council candidates expressed their concern that there is a dire need of a full service grocery store on the eastside of Michigan City which hasn't existed along the Michigan Boulevard corridor since SuperSave Foods (formally K&M) in Eastgate Plaza went bankrupt. That would be a great location for a grocery store for the residents of that area, either a 3rd Al's location or bring in a chain like Martin's. I hope they do tear that down, that has been an eyesore for a long while and that is a prime location with all the traffic for the casino. I agree that side of town does need a grocery store. Karwick is way too expensive for the economic climate of the Eastside. |
Mar 11 2015, 08:25 AM
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#4
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Really Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 2,006 Joined: 6-July 09 From: In Front of a computer screen Member No.: 929 |
I hope they do tear that down, that has been an eyesore for a long while and that is a prime location with all the traffic for the casino. I agree that side of town does need a grocery store. Karwick is way too expensive for the economic climate of the Eastside. Once Super Save went bankrupt mayor Meer as well as 5th ward councilmen Mr. Duane Parry should have both the chamber of commerce and economic development director Mr. Hulse to bring in a sustainable supermarket chain that specializes in serving the needs of lower middle income families and keeps their prices in line with their competitors. It never happened because it is very clear that Mayor Meer and Mr. Parry do not work well together. Martin's supermarket operates a store on Western Ave. by Washington High School area that services the predominately mixed Hispanic and black residents of the Westside of South Bend would be a ideal for the Boulevard. The residents of the Eastside, the most densely populated area of the city should not be forced to traverse halfway across the city to buy groceries especially in the winter time. Everybody has to eat. |
Mar 12 2015, 10:51 AM
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#5
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Getting Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 42 Joined: 22-January 13 Member No.: 1,242 |
Once Super Save went bankrupt mayor Meer as well as 5th ward councilmen Mr. Duane Parry should have both the chamber of commerce and economic development director Mr. Hulse to bring in a sustainable supermarket chain that specializes in serving the needs of lower middle income families and keeps their prices in line with their competitors. It never happened because it is very clear that Mayor Meer and Mr. Parry do not work well together. Martin's supermarket operates a store on Western Ave. by Washington High School area that services the predominately mixed Hispanic and black residents of the Westside of South Bend would be a ideal for the Boulevard. The residents of the Eastside, the most densely populated area of the city should not be forced to traverse halfway across the city to buy groceries especially in the winter time. Everybody has to eat. This is an epidemic in Chicago and I'd imagine many other major cities throughout the country including New Orleans. Minorities not having access to fresh meats and produce. Chicago stores are rife with junk food and alcohol on the south and west sides wile Jewel, Whole Foods and others are abundant in downtown and on the north-side. Many families, including elderly and disabled's have to take at least 10 mile bus trips to buy groceries at stores they cannot afford just to find food with nutritional value. Chicago is anti-Wal-Mart due to being non-union although I believe a couple have finally been built now in south-side locations. My aunt lived on 95th and Normal and it was a 18 mile round trip journey on trains and buses to find decent food. All that for a single 73 year old woman can be daunting and exhausting not to mention dangerous. She was limited on what she could carry as well having to use public transport. An alpha global city with a GDP greater than 2/3rds of the countries in the world should be able to provide access to fresh food for its residents. Eastgate Plaza with the old K&M should be razed. Michigan Blvd. has been neglected for decades now. The stores are dilapidated and abandoned. I don't know why with the city being so conscious as to what casino visitors see during the trek to and fro are not at least renovating the facades of some of these places and attracting new business. They are giving grants for downtown and Dunes Plaza though the biggest white elephant is Michigan. Maybe, (and I hope) the city building the new Police Department on Michigan will lower crime and appeal to developers. After investing millions in the beautification process it would only make sense to follow through and now work on the homes and businesses. Similar to the west side rehabilitation projects. |
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