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. |
Aug 12 2015, 05:59 PM
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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 see that Ball St. is going to conduct a $11,000 study on the Eastport area.
I will give the results of my study free of charge. In order to better serve the residents of that section of the city the following needs to be developed: -grocery store -hardware store -full service auto parts store -self service laundromat http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/news/articl...156d6967a6.html QUOTE Neighborhood study possible for Eastport area Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 2:21 pm By JESSICA O'BRIEN Staff Writer | 0 comments MICHIGAN CITY — If the Michigan City Common Council approves a request for $11,000 next month, students from Ball State University could be visiting the city to conduct a study of the Eastport neighborhood. This neighborhood is the area within Poplar and Vail streets to the west, Roeske Avenue on the east, Springland Avenue on the north and Barker Avenue to the south. The goal is to examine this area and consider how the quality of life can be improved, said Councilman Rich Murphy, who introduced this ordinance to the council on first reading last week. "Certainly the city has invested in this corridor to help pull up the area," Murphy said, referring to the Michigan Boulevard enhancements and the ongoing construction on the city's new police station. "This is looking at the next step." The ordinance seeks money from the Boyd Development fund to cover the costs associated with this study which will be a semester-long project for urban planning students at the university. However, Murphy said any action or improvements which come of this study will have to be further funded by city money. Since the entire neighborhood lies outside of the city's tax increment financing districts, Redevelopment Commission funds will not be available, said City Planner Craig Phillips. Murphy said Community Development Block Grant funds are a potential funding source for any projects in this area. Possible implementations resulting from this study could include ways to bring more economic development to the area, enhance existing amenities or the addition of new parks and recreation areas. This study will be led by Professor Scott Truex of Ball State University and is expected to begin in mid-October if the funds are appropriated. Murphy said the students will begin by walking through the neighborhood, speaking with residents and stakeholders. "They will look at the existing assets of the neighborhood ... and how those assets can be leveraged and enhanced for the best quality of life and economic results," he said. Throughout the semester, the students will be gathering information and input from neighborhood residents, compiling a final presentation on their recommendations at the end of the year. In 2007, architecture students from Andrews University completed a similar study on the north end, Murphy said, resulting in what he called a positive kick off to improvements in that area. This is a second opportunity for the city to benefit from taking a closer look at one of its neighborhoods. "Students think outside the box and they're not afraid to propose new ideas," he said. "They really engage the community because they are young students and they have a lot of energy and a lot to offer." This ordinance will be on second reading during the Aug. 18 meeting of the Michigan City Common Council, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY.... |
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