[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=41563.84

Route could go to lake

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - The Michigan City Common Council unanimously approved an amended resolution Monday that could lead to opening a corridor from the Franklin Square historic downtown district directly to Washington Park, the marina and Lake Michigan.

The council voted 8-0 in favor of the Redevelopment Commission's purchase of the property at 121 W. Michigan Boulevard, now occupied by The News-Dispatch building. As part of its approval of the purchase, the council will work with the Redevelopment Commission to amend what is called the Beachway plan.

The Beachway Plan, created in 1970, was an urban renewal project for the city's North End. It has been amended to include concepts from the Lohan-Anderson redevelopment study of Trail Creek. The council believes it's now time to make the city's primary resource - it's location on Lake Michigan - the centerpiece of a new Michigan City for a new millennium.

Council President Bob McKee, D-at Large, said the city's purchase of The News-Dispatch building opens up new possibilities for the city to control the development of a gateway to the lake front. The city now has a group of government and city buildings that block Franklin Street from Washington Park and the lake front.

McKee believes it's time to remove the barriers, including the library if necessary.

"We shouldn't have a government complex blocking the way to the lake," he said. "It should become substantial public space, an invitation to Franklin Street."

Public officials agree the police station needs to be replaced, and it could be moved out of the North End to a location more in the central part of the city, McKee said.

Acknowledging that people are likely to have different ideas about how to create a new gateway, McKee said that shouldn't stand in the way of moving forward on an action plan.

"We're not firing up the 'dozers tomorrow morning," he said. "There has to be a plan of attack about what this will look like 10 years from now."

Council member Rich Murphy, D-1st Ward, said the stage for a cooperative effort was set at a June 22 joint workshop between the council and Redevelopment Commission, when the council shared its concept of re-opening Franklin Street to Lake Michigan.

"The goal is to update the current Beachway plan with a reinvented plan that, from an access and land use perspective, puts downtown Michigan City back on Lake Michigan," Murphy said, "and begins to rebuild the powerful lake front brand that Michigan City once was."

At Monday's council meeting, McKee appointed himself and council members Murphy and Pat Boy, D-4th Ward, to a council committee that will begin the process of working with the Mayor and the Redevelopment Commission to consider amendments to the Beachway Plan.

Redevelopment Commission President Ken Behrendt has called a workshop with members of the council to begin the discussion of creating what McKee calls a "road map of how we're going to go about this so we arrive at a common vision."

[JHeath]

Amazing. We're actually about to start seeing things happen, rather than just having ideas studied.

[eric.hanke]

Amazing. We're actually about to start seeing things happen, rather than just having ideas studied.

I am certain we are a few more studies away from any real activity.

[HIaloha]

dare i admit to remembering being able to go straight to the beach area from McDonalds?? (well, i wasn't actually old enough to drive... i was a passenger! LOL) i also remember the square. it was nice, but very, very empty most of the time.

obviously, we need something different.

i agree, eric -- lots more studies.

[JHeath]

These plans were provided to the public over 3 years ago during the mayoral campaign by then candidate Joie Winski and Tera Architects a firm specializing in land planning.

Take a look, and imagine what could be...The Winski Plan



This post has been edited by JHeath: Jul 24 2009, 09:12 AM

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=40351.06

[quote]Call made to revisit Beachway Plan
Council members pitch idea to Redevelopment Commission

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Three City Council members made a pitch to the Redevelopment Commission to revisit the Beachway Plan created in 1970 as a blueprint for developing the North End.

The Beachway Plan was the original planning document for redeveloping the city's North End and has been added to over the years, but does not reflect current thinking about how the city should proceed from now into the future, according to council members.

The Redevelopment Commission's decision to purchase The News-Dispatch building, as well as the need to replace the outdated police station next to it, creates an opportunity to view the entire area in a new way, according to the council members.

"For the first time in a long time, the objective to create a reinvented corridor is plausible," said Rich Murphy, D-1st Ward. "If there is a consensus on looking at (the plan) again and reinventing it, we can work together."

Murphy and council members Bob McKee, D-At Large, and Pat Boy, D-4th Ward, were united in favor of opening up a gateway that would extend from Franklin Street to the lakefront at Washington Park and the marina.

"We need to keep in mind what would Chicago be like if (Daniel) Burnham hadn't protected the waterfront," Boy said.

Council President Bob McKee complimented the Redevelopment Commission members on their vision for a new Trail Creek corridor and asked them to take a similar look at what could be created in the newly acquired space.

"I think we do the citizens an injustice if we don't take time to see what potential this has," McKee said.

Redevelopment Commission member Lynn Kaser noted the Beachway Plan was created during a time when many cities were adopting similar plans, but they have since revisited those plans.

"We are so far behind, it's absolutely imperative now, since we have the chance to acquire (the property)," Kaser said. "This is what people want. If we put up roadblocks, we do it at our peril."

Neil Kienitz, a Redevelopment Commission member, shared photos he took in South Haven, Mich., that show the waterfront linked to the downtown area, making it easy for tourists to maneuver.

"The downtown is thriving because of its connection to the lakefront," Kienitz said.

The Redevelopment Commission agreed to consider a resolution at its Aug. 17 meeting that would allow for revisiting the Beachway Plan with an eye toward creating a redesigned Franklin Street corridor.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.[quote]