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[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=32796.78

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."

[Dave]

I have to say I have philosophical problems with using eminent domain to effectively take property away from one private party and give it to another. I'm all for north end redevelopment, as you all know, but this kind of use of government power really bothers me. Roads and other such public works are one thing, but taking property so developers can build on it is something else.

[lovethiscity]

I have to say I have philosophical problems with using eminent domain to effectively take property away from one private party and give it to another. I'm all for north end redevelopment, as you all know, but this kind of use of government power really bothers me. Roads and other such public works are one thing, but taking property so developers can build on it is something else.

Michael Bergerson running for Judge with his known stand on the issue is scary.

[Southsider2k12]

Michael Bergerson running for Judge with his known stand on the issue is scary.

If he is for Eminent Domain on this issue, I won't vote for him.

[lovethiscity]

If he is for Eminent Domain on this issue, I won't vote for him.

He is the lawyer for the Redevelopment Commision. The one that as rumor has it was trying to buy these worthless property's privately before going after them through the commision. I think he needs to address this issue and if he was trying, he needs to recuse himself from the whole procedure.

[mox1981]

He is the lawyer for the Redevelopment Commision. The one that as rumor has it was trying to buy these worthless property's privately before going after them through the commision. I think he needs to address this issue and if he was trying, he needs to recuse himself from the whole procedure.

You might want to get the facts straight before passing along malicious lies (under the guise of a rumor) that not only questions someone's integrity but accuses them of a criminal act.

The last time I checked, Bergerson did not have a vote on the Redevelopment Commission, the Planning Commission, or the City Council; these Boards unamimously or overwhelming approved the acquisition of this real estate.

If you want facts, they're public record...this property was included in the redevelopment area by at least 1997 and probably much, much earlier. Further, in the past two weeks, both Andrews University and Lohan Anderson independently presented their vision for the "golden triangle," and both recommended the acquisition and redevelopment of this real estate. The last time I checked, Bergerson had no financial interest in either.

Spreading false and malicious rumors is offensive and an insult to our intelligence. If you have any interest in the truth, just call Bergerson...like I did.

P.S. Anyway, I thought that the Webers said that they now want to sell, but want the City (you and me) to pick up the tab for their mess.

[Dave]

The last time I checked, Bergerson did not have a vote on the Redevelopment Commission, the Planning Commission, or the City Council; these Boards unamimously or overwhelming approved the acquisition of this real estate.

I checked. You're right. As attorney for the Redevelopment Commission, he doesn't actually have a vote, though one would be silly to think that he isn't in a position of influence. If he were to have any kind of financial interest, ethically the least he would be expected to do would be to disclose that interest.

Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct

Rule 1.7. Conflict of Interest: Current Clients

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation involves a concurrent conflict of interest. A concurrent conflict of interest exists if:

(1) the representation of one client will be directly adverse to another client; or

(2) there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be materially limited by the lawyer's responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or by a personal interest of the lawyer.

(b) Notwithstanding the existence of a concurrent conflict of interest under paragraph (a), a lawyer may represent a client if:

(1) the lawyer reasonably believes that the lawyer will be able to provide competent and diligent representation to each affected client;

(2) the representation is not prohibited by law;

(3) the representation does not involve the assertion of a claim by one client against another client represented by the lawyer in the same litigation or other proceeding before a tribunal; and

(4) each affected client gives informed consent, confirmed in writing.

Now, I'm against spreading gossip and rumors as much as, if not more so, than the next person, but I'm not going to fly off the handle about it, calling people liars and the like, because I didn't know of the rumor before I read it here, and I don't have personal knowledge regarding the truth or falsity of the claim. Heck, I can imagine a scenario where Mr. Bergerson was acting as council for the RC and looking into acquisition of the property in question, and that could easily have been misinterpreted as something it wasn't (pure speculation here, of course).

On the other hand, if it turns out that anyone related to the Redevelopment Commission was doing anything like buying property effected by their official actions, I would be gung ho on getting them prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As an exercise for my own personal edification, I may have to determine whether such a prosecution would be done on a state or a federal level.

As for the Webers being interested in selling their property, heck, they're running a business. If I offered NIPSCO a $1 trillion for their lakefront generating station, I betcha they'd sell it to me, but if I offered them $1 they wouldn't even answer my mail. The Webers own a piece of real estate which appears to have substantial money value, and they seem to want fair compensation for it. I have no problem with that. I do have a problem with using the power of government to take the property away from them to give it to someone else who gets to make a boatload of money on it.

Nice first post, mox1981. This is a good place for discussions and opinions.

[Southsider2k12]

Nice first post, mox1981. This is a good place for discussions and opinions.

I wanted to add on to this a little bit. My favorite thing about this place is that it is open, and is completely determined by the people who want to share here. Every other piece of media in Michigan City is controlled to some extent. The News Dispatch publishes what it wants to publish. WIMS puts on air whom ever it wants to put on the air. Even the cable access TV shows like News and Views or Its Time to Blow the Whistle have control over who talks on their shows. When it comes to this place, anyone who has access to a computer can register and post. Anyone else who posts here has just as much of a voice as me, who owns this place. The thing about that kind of freedom is that things will get said that are wrong, offend people, or more. In cases where information is wrong, all that needs to be said is what is wrong, and what is true. The only thing I really ask for is civility in responding. We are a pretty easy going and open-minded bunch. Welcome to the board, and I hope to see you around more often.