[Southsider2k12]

Kohls and Target would be nice adds for MC.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=32931.22

Development continues on South End

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

Those who've been waiting for retail buildings to spring up like stalks of corn from the ground at the intersection of Interstate 94 and U.S. 421 will have to wait a while longer.

Nobody seems to know exactly how long it will take to reap a harvest from development plans that are currently in various stages. And for now, it remains a mystery exactly which retailers the developers are courting.

Matt Reardon, economic development consultant for LaPorte County, recently told the LaPorte County Redevelopment Commission that three development companies - GK Development, Lauth Construction and Plaza Corp. - continue to be interested in land at the southwest, northwest and northeast corners, respectively, of the 700 available acres located at the intersection.

Like "the field of dreams," the groundwork for development was laid two years ago. Hoping to attract developers, local and county government officials revised zoning in the area, according to Ray Hamilton, building commissioner for LaPorte County.

"Our zoning wasn't comparable to the Michigan City side," Hamilton said. "There was some agricultural, some industrial and some residential. It was just a fruit salad of different zonings out there."

"Out there" refers to the 700 acres from County Line Road on the west to County Road 200 North on the south, then to County Road 950 West on the east side to I-94 and up to Woodland Avenue on the north side, Hamilton said. It has been zoned "general business," the broadest zoning category that also includes light industrial development.

Hamilton says he is consulted during the design phase for building and roads and then generally doesn't get involved until it's time to issue building permits, which hasn't happened yet on any project in that area. The surveying and preliminary design work for extending water and sewer service to the undeveloped parcels was completed in May by Beam, Longest and Neff LLC, of Indianapolis.

"I think we'll see the fruits of it pretty soon," Hamilton said. "It's exciting to see people who are showing interest in this area."

According to Hamilton, the project that is closest to actual groundbreaking is one involving Plazacorp Realty Advisors Inc. of Kalamazoo, Mich. Manager Mark Chilcott confirmed that the company is working on a project for the northeast corner on County Road 400 North and 950 West, across from the new Wal-Mart site. But he refused to discuss project details at this time.

Hamilton said that issues involving wetlands could slow the project, as well as a need to find out where the main entrances for Wal-Mart will be on 400 North, also known as Keiffer Road. County highway engineer Rick McVay said he expects to request bids for road construction in July for 400 North and 950 West.

It's been a year and a half since GK Development Inc. of Barrington, Ill., first approached the LaPorte County Redevelopment Commission with a plan to develop 250,000 square feet of mixed retail and commercial space and 100,000 square feet of light industrial space on 56 acres on the southwest corner of I-94 and U.S. 421.

According to Marianne Fasano, director of media relations for GK Development, the real estate development company is moving forward with its original concept for a $20 million development and continues to believe it is "a location with good potential."

"Frankly, the process has to take place and move along at its own pace, so all parties are satisfied," Fasano said. "These things are complex. They move along at a rate that varies all over the board."

GK Development had intended to build a more than 351,000-square-foot retail and commercial space on 40 acres in Chesterton, south of County Road 1100 North and east of Indiana 49. Reportedly, commitments from Kohl's and Target had been secured. But the Chesterton Town Council rejected the proposal in April 2006.

Chesteron's loss could become Michigan City and LaPorte County's gain. And the fact that Lauth Construction, based in Indianapolis, is building Porters Vale in Valparaiso does not exclude the possibility of additional construction in Michigan City, said company spokesman Marc Lotter. Lauth Construction has zeroed in on the northwest corner of the property here, behind the Orak Temple.

"We're still very interested in the area," Lotter said. "We're one of the largest development companies in the United States. We have 70 projects going, with eight to 10 retail developments at a time."

Lotter said Porters Vale at Indiana 49 and Indiana 2 in Valparaiso will be a 750,000-square-foot "power lifestyle development," combining the large retail stores of a "power center" with the smaller, upscale shops, restaurants and entertainment venues and landscape architecture of a "lifestyle center."

"It's a destination," Lotter said. "It should be a fantastic facility." He said J.C. Penney and Cinemark Theater have already committed to the Valparaiso project and Phase One is expected to open later this year.

Contact reporter Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[JHeath]

Development of the south side is good, but what are we going to do with the empty storefronts? Wal-Mart will soon add another when they move.

[Southsider2k12]

We still haven't done anything with the storefronts on the north end, let alone on the south end. I am torn, beause you love the property tax dollars that come in, and the jobs that go with them, plus the competition to keep prices low for our low income people. The problem is that the growth hasn't been controled or directed well.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Amen, Southsider! And few high-end (for MC!) projects are planned. Kohls and Target would be a step up from Super-freakin'-walmart. What a waste of space that is!

[JHeath]

As much as I agree with both of you on this, let's face it: our demographics in this area match what the people in the planning and development departments at Wal-Mart are seeking.

That being said, I'd still like to see other areas of our city revitalized before the doughnut effect gets any worse!

[Southsider2k12]

As much as I agree with both of you on this, let's face it: our demographics in this area match what the people in the planning and development departments at Wal-Mart are seeking.

That being said, I'd still like to see other areas of our city revitalized before the doughnut effect gets any worse!

Demographically we are such a weird town. We have basically no middle class here anymore. We have the ultra-rich, and the ultra-poor, but really nothing in between. It bears out when you look at the success of Lighthouse Place, and the success of places like Wal-Mart.

[Roger Kaputnik]

It seems that superWalmart is proof that the planners are aiming low. The planners are really bad, and if we get good stores, it will be despite them.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=45954.58

City Ready To Bid Out Construction On 400 North

Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch

The footprint of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter is growing on a daily basis, but the mega-retailer still needs to tie up one loose end before Michigan City and LaPorte County can begin widening County Road 400 North to accommodate the new stores' visitors.

"We've acquired all the rights-of-way, now we're just waiting for paperwork from Wal-Mart about an entryway," Michigan City Planner John Pugh said this week. "We plan on letting bids (for construction on the road) in July."

Pugh said the city is ready to advertise bids for construction on the project, the city's portion of which will be paid for through $4.5 million in Tax Increment Financing bonds.

The area is inside the city's South Side TIF District, which was created in the early 1990s to help pay for the construction of Cleveland Avenue, which runs behind Meijer, Lowe's, Menard's and the future site of the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

LaPorte County has yet to announce how it will pay for its share of the project.

County Road 400 North - Kieffer Road, as it's known at its intersection with U.S. 421 - straddles the line separating Michigan City from LaPorte County.

Repayment of the TIF bonds will not fall on the backs of Michigan City taxpayers, Pugh said, thanks to revenue that's come into the city through the big box retailers in the area.

"We'll never have to go for back taxes or anything like that," Pugh said.

Tax increment financing allows bonds to be paid off by future tax revenues garnered through the improvement of the area within the TIF district.

TIFs are used mostly for improvements which are likely to raise the value of both existing properties and properties created in the future.

Pugh said the development along south Franklin Street is a prime example of the success of TIF districts.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Yeah, Pugh, all those giant corporations really need the tax relief.

[Max Main]

the develope of the kohls and target area has pulled out--and can you believe that I read it in the post-trib, not the ND?????? Let's find more details.