[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=20758

Park seen as gate to revamped Blvd.

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Gateway Park is likely to become the first finished piece of what is expected to become an enhanced gateway into Michigan City along Michigan Boulevard.

Gateway Park will be established on the former site of Harborside Homes, a 3-acre plot between U.S. 12 and Fifth Street.

"We hope it will be ready this year," said John Pugh, director of planning and development for the city. Pugh said the park should come together quickly, since no major structures will be built.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development transferred ownership of the property to the city after demolished the existing subsidized housing. At the time, HUD stipulated the land was to be used for an urban park.

In September, the Board of Works OK'd a plan for the park submitted by Lohan Anderson, a Chicago architecture planning firm. A contract with Lohan Anderson is still being negotiated, Pugh said.

The company will conduct a site inspection, once the weather improves, to check for environmental contamination. The site runs up to property owned by Blocksom & Co. on Trail Creek.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Southsider2k12]

So out of curiousity what do people think of a park replacing a housing development, especially one for mostly Michigan City's poorest folks?

[kharris]

So out of curiousity what do people think of a park replacing a housing development, especially one for mostly Michigan City's poorest folks?

In the whole grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter what we think since the feds require it be turned into something for public use.

[Ang]

Well, a park is certainly better than what was there. My concern is the crime in that area. The housing development didn't work because of poverty and crime. Since the overall neighborhood hasn't improved, what makes the City think a park will work in that location?

I predict damaged equipment and graffiti within three months of completion.

[Southsider2k12]

In the whole grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter what we think since the feds require it be turned into something for public use.

Ah, interesting. That puts a whole different spin on things. Now that you mention it, isn't there also a provision that mandates it has be put into public use by a certian date or they lose the land?

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=47877.64

Gateway Park on the horizon

Joseph Malan
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Plans for Gateway Park are moving forward after City Planner John Pugh announced a contract agreement with a Chicago-based company.

Lohan Anderson, a Chicago firm specializing in architecture, planning and interior design, will begin the first steps of developing concept designs for the park, following Tuesday's Board of Public Works meeting.

Michigan City Gateway Park will occupy an area on East Michigan Boulevard, between U.S. 12 and Fifth Street, where Harborside Homes used to be located. Pugh said the park will incorporate walking paths, benches and landscaping areas for the residents of Michigan City to enjoy.

"It'll be an urban pedestrian facility," Pugh said.

The park, Pugh said, is part of an overall Trail Creek plan the city is undertaking to restore areas in the north end of town. Along with Gateway Park, an approximate 1,000 residential units will be added to the downtown area, according to the planning concept.

"[The park] will really be a gateway into a new residential area," Pugh said.

Basil Souder, a principal of Lohan Anderson, said he would return to the board in April to present a few concept designs, some descriptive drawings, and an overall cost estimate.

Souder said he expects landscaping of the park to begin in the summer and be finished in the fall.

Also at the meeting Tuesday, Attorney John Espar announced the city had acquired 50 to 60 county properties from the county that will be given to adjacent landowners in the city. The properties are at various locations and sit vacant.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie gave the go-ahead to notify adjacent landowners of the properties.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=25994

Gateway Park still being planned

Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY - A public park planned at the intersection of U.S. 12 and 35 is still in the works, although the $1 million it probably will take to build has not yet been appropriated by the City Council.

City Planner John Pugh said the creation of Gateway Park would be considered a capital improvement project, and the mayor hasn't requested approval for such projects yet for the 2010 budget.

The park will be developed after renovations to Michigan Boulevard are complete, Pugh said. That work is expected to begin in January.

The city intends to build a park in the space once occupied by the Harborside Homes public housing apartments. After the housing development was demolished, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development transferred control of the land to the city with the restriction that it be used as a "public space," Pugh said. As a result, the park became part of the Trail Creek Plan, which calls for residential and business development along Michigan Boulevard from U.S. 12 to Eighth Street, he said.

"The plan calls for 1,000 units of housing in the area, and this would provide an open public space for the neighborhood," Pugh said.

If the city does not reserve that space for public use, Pugh said HUD would resume control of the land. That restriction does not expire, he said.

Part of the park will be located where the filter manufacturer Blocksom & Co. now stands, he said. The city struck a $6.1 million deal to relocate the company, which should be moved within three years.

"The park would have a trail, which we hope to eventually connect with a riverwalk that would have shops, restaurants and bars along the waterfront," he said.

[mcstumper]

Well, a park is certainly better than what was there. My concern is the crime in that area. The housing development didn't work because of poverty and crime. Since the overall neighborhood hasn't improved, what makes the City think a park will work in that location?

I predict damaged equipment and graffiti within three months of completion.

Behold! The power of positive thinking...

[southyards]

Of course that could be amended slightly to read "The Power Of Positive AND REALISTIC Thinking". : - )

[Tom Burns]

Behold! The power of positive thinking...

Does anyone recall how bad that area looked in the late l960s? I had been brought in to do a bit of broadcast consulting and at that point the route past the housing was the main way across Michigan City and into Michigan.

Months later upon deciding to buy what was then a near bankrupt radio station, my wife commented on the look of the housing and made some comment about my lack of sanity. What has been done to clean up that area has made a significant difference. A park could be an interesting use if the problem potential noted above can be overcome.

[mcstumper]

Does anyone recall how bad that area looked in the late l960s?

You are remembering it wrong. 'Back Then", that area was lush with gumdrop trees and happy little people whistling while they worked. It's only in the past decade that the shadow has fallen on our fair kingdom...

I agree with the other people here. We shouldn't try to do anything positive because of the inevitable misdeeds of the community boobs.

When I was in Italy a few years ago, I was flabbergasted by the amount of vandalism I saw there. There wasn't a building, historical or otherwise, that wasn't spray painted. Thankfully the Italians can see the bigger picture. They take pride in their cities and don't simply give-up on themselves because of punkery.

[Mack]

Is there a park in Laporte County WITHOUT graffiti and broken equipment?
Sounds kinda stereotypical to me.
Someone should ask the Park department which parks actually have the most and we could rank them.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=26818

Capital improvements get inital nod

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Proposals for three capital improvement projects requiring $255,500 in riverboat funds got a first reading by the Michigan City Common Council on Tuesday.

Rich Murphy, D-1st Ward, introduced an ordinance to appropriate $125,000 for professional design and construction administration of Gateway Park. The public park will be built at the former site of a public housing project called Harborside Homes, at the intersection of U.S. 12 and 35. The land for the park was transferred to the city by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the understanding it would be used for a public park.

Gateway Park has been incorporated into the city's Trail Creek redevelopment plan, developed by the Chicago-based architecture and planning firm Lohan Anderson. Lohan Anderson made a proposal to the city in August to complete the Gateway Park design and construction management for $154,000.

Council President Bob McKee, D-At-Large, referred the ordinance to the finance committee for further study before the second reading at the next council meeting. Finance committee chair Marc Espar, D-2nd Ward, said he had some questions about possible involvement of the Park Department in park development.

Espar introduced an ordinance to appropriate $100,000 for the Michigan City Police Department's mobile data transfer canopy system. The system is intended link mobile computer and video systems throughout the county. It makes use of mobile cameras to monitor criminal activity and produce a record of evidence that can be used in court. The county council has appropriated $600,000 to get the project off the ground.

McKee referred the ordinance to the finance committee for review and recommendation at the next council meeting, when a public hearing will be held.

The last Riverboat fund expenditure under consideration is $30,000 to replace the boiler in the police station. The finance committee will review the ordinance and, given the urgency of the request, it will be brought back for a second and final reading at the next council meeting.

Council member Willie Milsap, D-5th Ward, introduced an ordinance to allow emergency key boxes to be installed at businesses to allow rapid access under emergency conditions, and another ordinance that would establish a fire inspection fee and non-emergency medical assistance fees. Both ordinances were referred to the health and safety committee and will be held for second reading and a public hearing at the next council meeting.

The council voted 7-2 to allow the Central Maintenance Department to award a $20,000 contract to a company to perform a certified energy audit of the police station and one firehouse. The audit will provide information that will be used to request grant funds to improve the energy efficiency of the two structures.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Upper Penn]

I still don’t understand why this is being built before Blocksam(?) is out of there. I don’t understand why we need a consultant to design a passive use park when the city employs a engineer, park superintendent and an urban forester. Oh wait i know. because when it sit s and isn’t used for anything and is not being maintained because the council continues to approve funding for projects that increase demand on operating expensive while cutting additional support from river boat funds they can say they just hired some morons and it wasn’t their fault.

[Southsider2k12]

There is a federal mandate that came with the City getting this land that said it had to be a park built there, and there was also a tight time schedule in which it had to be built, or the land reverted back to federal ownership.

[TSNSPYDER]

When I was in Italy a few years ago, I was flabbergasted by the amount of vandalism I saw there. There wasn't a building, historical or otherwise, that wasn't spray painted. Thankfully the Italians can see the bigger picture. They take pride in their cities and don't simply give-up on themselves because of punkery.

Nope....still the same. I had some friends that went to Italy back in the summer and they were surprised how dirty it looked there.

[Southsider2k12]

Pricetag... One million dollars

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...17619882381.txt

Firm: New park's price tag is $1M+

By Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 4:13 AM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The Charles R. Westcott Gateway Park will cost more than $1 million to build, according to Chicago architects Lohan Anderson, who designed the project.

Eight bids came in for the new park, which will be under way at U.S. 12 and Michigan Boulevard in about a month, said Basil Souder, principal with Lohan Anderson. More than $174,000 of the cost will go toward turning an overhead NIPSCO power line that cuts through the park space into an underground transmission line to increase the park’s beauty, he said.

The bids were presented Monday to the Board of Public Works and Safety. Larson-Danielson Construction of La Porte was the lowest bidder, coming in at $927,562 for the whole project. A 10 percent contingency fee for unforeseen costs and to pay for possible security cameras, as well as architectural administrative and design costs of $27,075, boosted the cost to a total of $1,047,393.

The cost includes all landscaping, trees and sidewalk work, as well four optional add-ons presented by the architects:

• $50,470 for planting and other improvements in the state-owned right of way along U.S. 12 behind the park.

• $24,400 to place a stone veneer on the concrete planters at the East Fourth Street entrance and stage.

• $17,800 for three years of prairie stewardship, which allow for the contractor to care for and properly establish native grasses.

• $3,900 for an underground conduit to two emergency call stations that may be built in the park.

Souder said he still needs to find out how much the call stations would cost. He also is working with Larson-Danielson to increase the number of women employed on the project. They reported 0 percent female participation in their bid and 20 percent non-white minorities. The city’s goal is 5 percent participation in both categories, Mayor Chuck Oberlie said.

The board approved a motion by Oberlie to ask for an appropriation for the costs from the City Council. The contract can be awarded after the appropriation is made, he said. The creation of Gateway Park is considered a capital improvement project, and the mayor hasn’t requested approval for it yet, so it is not in the budget.

[Ang]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...3e067757514.txt

Park’s price tag draws concern

By Matt Field
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 4:13 AM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Some City Council members raised objections Tuesday night to the million-dollar-plus price tag for a new park planned for U.S. 12 and Michigan Boulevard.

As the council contemplated funding for the Charles R. Westcott Gateway Park, councilmen Ron Meer and Marc Espar voiced concerns about the cost.

If the $1,047,393 funding ordinance for the park is approved, the total cost would be about $1.2 million. That includes the $125,500 the council approved in 2009 for the park’s construction administration and design.

Espar, the council’s president, said he heard on several occasions the park wouldn’t cost more than $1 million, so the latest estimate leaves him concerned. He also said the park would cost money to maintain in the long term, a concern given the city’s financial outlook.

Meer suggested maintaining the land as a well-kept open space. While Meer voted against funding the design of the park, Espar voted with the majority. Meer said he would again vote against the construction funding as well.

Espar has referred the ordinance to the council’s Finance and the Planning and Zoning committees for further review.

The park would occupy the space of the former Harborside Homes public-housing apartments. Once the development was demolished, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development transferred control of the land to the city with the stipulation it be used as a “public space.”

The same firm that designed the park also developed a much-touted vision for the Trail Creek Redevelopment. The Lohan Anderson plan envisions high rises and many new residential structures developed within the 50-acre Trail Creek redevelopment.

The park could provide the new neighborhood with an open space.

The Board of Public Works and Safety recently approved a motion by Oberlie to ask for an appropriation for the park costs from the City Council.

Larson-Danielson Construction of La Porte was the lowest bidder on the park project, coming in at $927,562. A 10 percent contingency fee for unforeseen costs and to pay for possible security cameras, as well as architectural administrative and design costs of $27,075, boosted the cost to a total of $1,047,393.

[taxthedeer]

Gateway Park could open the gate for several opportunities for those that are willing to take a risk and go into business.

I took a ride up the Boulevard and took note of the properties that are available:

• The Brewery Building
• Michigan City Jeep/Chrysler
• Kim Lee's Chinese Take Out
• Eastport School
• Johnny's World Art Studio (Tattoo Parlor)
• Family Dollar
• Kevin's BBQ
• Wash 1 Car Wash
• Pawloske's Quick Stop
• Harbor Jeep (Low Inventory, closed service garage)
• Woodruff's Garden Center

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...ee935910182.txt

Reaction still mixed to Westcott Park

By Matt Field
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, July 8, 2010 4:14 AM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The Common Council took another step Tuesday toward funding the planned Charles R. Westcott Gateway Park.

After project designer Basil Souder of Lohan Anderson consultants gave the council a presentation about the design of the park, to be built at U.S. 12 and Michigan Boulevard, the few people who commented on it had different opinions.

Carolyn Saxton, the executive director of the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, was in full support.

“We’re thrilled at the idea of having this park, particularly in this location as the gateway to Michigan City.”

She said she wants to work with the planners of the park to incorporate art into it.

A man identifying himself as the president of the Elston Grove Neighborhood Association also came down in favor of the million-dollar park.

“I think this park is a great idea,” he said. “You have to start somewhere. I’ve seen a lot of change in this community.”

But one man had concerns.

“It’s just too much. A nice park with some landscaping, some picnic shelters, some grills to cook on, maybe an area for children to play would be more than sufficient.”

The appropriation ordinance had its second reading at Tuesday night’s meeting. It still must be voted on after a third reading.

The park would have trees, walkways, native plantings, a raised platform for performers surrounded by a crescent of honey locust and sycamore trees and a structure at one entrance on which the name of the late Elite Youth Center basketball coach Charles R. Westcott would be emblazoned, Souder explained in previously.