[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...;ArticleID=6739

Mayor: Plans 'Exciting' For North End

Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - A design for the city's North End is coming together, and Mayor Chuck Oberlie hopes to lay down a template for development soon in light of two groundbreaking studies recently completed.

"It's exciting," Oberlie said of a study presented to the city's Redevelopment Commission last week outlining a development plan for the Trail Creek corridor. "Now, we can begin laying out some kind of plan, a timeline to move forward."

Chicago design firm Lohan-Anderson last week presented to the city a development plan for the section of Michigan Boulevard and Trail Creek selected by the city as its ideal spot for North End redevelopment.

The plan includes development of creek-side residential and retail space, as well as an extension of residential and retail space from Michigan Boulevard up Sixth Street to Pine Street.

City officials commissioned the plan as a catalyst with which to attract potential "master" developers for the area. Along with a recently completed comprehensive study of the city's entire North End by Andrews University, Oberlie hopes to use the plan to lay out one for developers to follow.

"We want to select one developer to oversee what we want on the North End," Oberlie said. "The master developer could be a developer with the wherewithal to build it all, or it may seek out other developers.

"This is to maintain the integrity of the project."

The design also shows the creation of an island in Trail Creek that would serve as a nature preserve, and suggested a park space across from the Blue Chip Casino boat that could serve as a gathering place for residents to watch movies on a large screen stationed on the creek-side wall of the boat.

More marina space is included, as is a raised tram system that would take people from the creek area to Washington Park beach via elevated gondolas.

"We faced some real challenges," said Joel Stauber, Lohan-Anderson's director of planning. "The original scope was to create a vision plan to help attract a master developer.

"They need someone to oversee the whole area and work clearly with the redevelopment commission."

Stauber said the city could've simply solicited requests for proposals from developers, but that avenue would take much of the oversight out of the hands of the city.

"It's important for the Redevelopment Commission to have its own input into any plan," he said.

The final draft of the Andrews University study - which covers an area much larger than the 50 acres in the Anderson plan - is due in December. Oberlie said the two studies will be looked at and a single template designed.

Contact Jason Miller at jmiller@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Dave]

Planning is a great thing. Unplanned growth can lead to horrific results, I think we can all agree with that.

On the other hand, planning alone gets nothing done. We have plans for north end redevelopment going back decades, and not much has actually been done. Heck, the biggest thing to happen on the north end in 30 years has been the Blue Chip Casino, and I doubt that was in anyone's plan before it actually happened.

On the gripping hand, development will come when market forces dictate it will. Developers will build condo developments, intermodal facilities, resort communities, or a spaceport if and when they determine they can do it at a profit. The city can do a number of things to facilitate this kind of growth, or discourage it, and hopefully to guide it, but without the underlying market to drive the change, it isn't going to happen.

I believe personally that day is approaching, but I'm not sure when it is going to get here. I will be happily surprised if it happens in less than five years, and unhappily surprised if it takes more than six.

[Roger Kaputnik]

If the City does acquire land, it should only be to put it into the public domain for the benefit of all. It is immoral, though now legal, to take it to convert to private profit. I think my previous posts indicate what direction the City should take.

[Dave]

I agree, Roger. I'm sure our founding fathers did not anticipate the use of eminent domain for taking private property from homeowners or business owners and transferring it to developers who then get to make a boatload of cash. If the developers really want to devolope some parcel of land -- and I am thinking Blocksom -- they should go to the current owners and pay them as much as they (the current owners) want for the property.

The Fifth Amendment states "...nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." Taking private property from one private owner just to give it to another private owner is not a "public use" (though I may be in disagreement with the US Supreme Court here. Meh, they've been wrong more than once.)

[Roger Kaputnik]

This is a case where they are actually in DIRECT violation of the Constitution. In reading the Oberlie plan, it sounds like the typical condos+small shops, etc., plan that actually requires next to no thought--the potentially open and accessible park areas that I envision are not gonna be achieved. Oberlie has been a linchpin in the drying up of MC, and it is a damn shame he is still in a position to screw up things even more. Lack of imagination should be an immediate disqualification for office.

[Ang]

Roger, maybe you should run for Mayor next time instead of the school board. Either way, your ideas and visions would be good for the City.

[Roger Kaputnik]

I want MC to be appealing and on the rise--so the next generation will live here. Otherwise, one of the strong points of the city, namely, the strong family ties, will be further weakened. Imagine what happens in a church (eg, St Mary's or St Stan's) when that tie is weakened and the next generation is gone away. That is what will happen on a larger scale to the city.