North end could be "choice area", Andrews North End Plan discussion |
North end could be "choice area", Andrews North End Plan discussion |
Jan 17 2008, 08:07 AM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,460 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=32796.78
QUOTE Oberlie: North End Can Be 'Choice' Area Jason Miller The News-Dispatch MICHIGAN CITY - In his annual state-of-the-city address last week, Mayor Chuck Oberlie outlined his fast-track plans for the city's North End in hopes that after the first quarter of 2008, the engine of change will be humming. Saying the area isn't pedestrian friendly or visually pleasing, he hopes the results of three studies laying out possibilities for the North End turn the area - through a unified vision - into the city's "neighborhood of choice." "The beauty of it all is that I outlined 21 different projects, and all of them will be moving forward as of (Thursday)," he said. "And they can all move forward without hurting the others." Oberlie also released a small portfolio featuring a few ideas for North End redevelopment gleaned from three studies the city has commissioned in the last two years. The most visually striking of the ideas is a large residential and commercial area along Trail Creek which, in theory, would include three large high-rise buildings just across the creek from Blue Chip Casino. Oberlie's thoughts are that developing the Trail Creek Corridor from Eighth Street to Washington Park would turn the city's North End into the crown jewel of the city. His hopes aren't without precedent. Although its size pales in comparison to that of Michigan City, the town of Saugatuck, Mich., benefits greatly from a developed Kalamazoo River, which houses not only hundreds of private boat slips, but residences, shops and restaurants like those Oberlie envisions for Trail Creek. "Our boating industry is a huge element of our success, if not the lifeblood of our town," second-term Saugatuck Mayor Tony Vettori said Friday. "And it's all due to the fact that there's so much to do right along the river. It brings in boaters and non-boaters." Like Michigan City, Saugatuck features a river that leads to a large, heavily used beach and the waters of Lake Michigan. Vettori said the beach benefits from the downtown river scene, just as the downtown benefits from the beach and Lake Michigan. "We've become an art destination and a shopping destination. And Oval Beach is rated one of the top 10 beaches in the country," Vettori said. "The water is all a part of what draws people here, and I'd think it would have the same effect in Michigan City." |
Feb 13 2008, 12:12 PM
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Really Comfortable Group: Moderator Posts: 1,658 Joined: 26-July 07 From: Michigan City Member No.: 482 |
Franklin Street currently has two lanes with angle parking on both sides. I suppose wider lanes would be prudent if the traffic in the lanes is going in opposite directions.
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Feb 13 2008, 08:53 PM
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 459 Joined: 4-April 07 Member No.: 182 |
Franklin Street currently has two lanes with angle parking on both sides. I suppose wider lanes would be prudent if the traffic in the lanes is going in opposite directions. Right. But widening the lanes while keeping angle parking would necessitate a complete overhaul - ripping out everything that is there and starting over with narrower sidewalks. If my math is right, doing what Bill is recommending would result in a loss of only 25% of the parking spaces while allowing the traffic lanes to be widened from 10 ft to almost 15ft. This, and it wouldn't require nearly as much reconstruction. Put simply, mean reversion is a bitch. -Vitaliy Katsenelson
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Feb 13 2008, 09:13 PM
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Really Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 627 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 41 |
Right. But widening the lanes while keeping angle parking would necessitate a complete overhaul - ripping out everything that is there and starting over with narrower sidewalks. If my math is right, doing what Bill is recommending would result in a loss of only 25% of the parking spaces while allowing the traffic lanes to be widened from 10 ft to almost 15ft. This, and it wouldn't require nearly as much reconstruction. Common sense makes me ask. With the library blocking the path to and from the lake, where are the vehicles going to come from to go north on Franklin at Fourth Street? It will for the most part remain a one way street. History shows us, that when Mr. Oberlie sets his mind to increasing traffic in an area (Franklin Square) it does not work out very well. On the other hand when he puts in the effort and lots of money to reduce traffic (South Franklin via a five lane highway through a corn field) it doe not work well either. I just hope if anything is done, it gets done right. By the way will somebody please move the library. |
Feb 14 2008, 07:24 AM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,460 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
Common sense makes me ask. With the library blocking the path to and from the lake, where are the vehicles going to come from to go north on Franklin at Fourth Street? It will for the most part remain a one way street. History shows us, that when Mr. Oberlie sets his mind to increasing traffic in an area (Franklin Square) it does not work out very well. On the other hand when he puts in the effort and lots of money to reduce traffic (South Franklin via a five lane highway through a corn field) it doe not work well either. I just hope if anything is done, it gets done right. By the way will somebody please move the library. Perfect post. No one is going to mess around with Franklin St, even as a two way street, when they can go over to Pine and get to whereever they want. If the library is there, there isn't much point. |
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