[Roger Kaputnik]

If bergerson is on the bench, will he be involved in these issues any more?

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=46402.89

Firm: Trail Creek corridor has great potential

By Kristin Miller
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Within 10 to 12 years, the Trail Creek corridor could be host to about 450 new housing units, plus several restaurants and a couple of parks.

The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission heard a preliminary market analysis on Monday from real estate consulting firm Tracy Cross & Associates, Schaumburg, Ill.

In doing the analysis, the firm researched markets from Kenosha, Wis., to Holland, Mich.

With the economy as it is, ground will not be broken before 2010, 2011 at the latest, firm President Tracy Cross said.

"We're not looking at putting up high-rise developments in the middle of nothingness," he said, adding residential development is the cornerstone of developing the corridor. The firm has identified 22.5 acres of property that could be developed on 14 parcels of land, including two parcels now owned by Blue Chip Casino.

Housing units could include rental apartments, garden condominiums, row homes and single-family detached units.

An original idea was to have several high-rise apartment buildings, but Cross said at the current buying rate of .5 units per month, it would take 340 months to fill a 195-unit building of that type.

"Price, price, price is the most important element of how to develop this community," he said.

The project sizes are key, Cross said. The analysis done shows developments that can be broken down into three phases. For example, a 36-unit condominium on the marina could be built in three 12-unit blocks.

And this way, too, several housing projects could be in the works at the same time, he said.

City Planner John Pugh said the intent is to go out and find a master developer who could work within the analysis, which is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Erik Doersching, an analyst and executive vice president of the firm, said the company is very confident the ideas presented could be realized. He said the firm's analytical approach and ability to forecast the market accurately makes the plan practical.



Contact Kristin Miller at kmiller@thenewsdispatch.com.

[JHeath]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=41065.57

11/11/2008 11:00:00 AM
City makes progress on T. Creek Corridor

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Action on two fronts is clearing the way for city efforts to develop the Trail Creek Corridor from the Blocksom property to the Eighth Street bridge.

Mike Bergerson, Michigan City Redevelopment Commission attorney, said at Monday's meeting property appraisers have been appointed to assess the value of the Weber Sign Service and Icehouse properties at Eighth Street and Michigan Boulevard.

Bergerson expects to have finalized appraisals in time for the Dec. 8 commission meeting. Finalizing the property assessments is the next step in settling a long-fought legal battle between the city and property owners William and Kathy Weber and Thomas and Florence Sobkowiak.

Bergerson also said environmental assessments are being done this week on both properties. Previous assessments at the two adjacent sites estimated cleanup costs at more than $1 million. Current assessments will be more comprehensive and done inside the buildings as well as the grounds.

Lake County Superior Court Judge Calvin Hawkins, who is hearing the case, ruled the Redevelopment Commission may move ahead with cleanup and can request compensation for cleanup costs from the property owners, who have not done any cleanup at the contaminated sites to date.

"That's why this property is worthless," Bergerson said. "It's an impediment to redevelopment. It's a blighted area."

The owners of Weber Sign Service and Icehouse property filed the suit in Lake Superior Court. They claim the city has failed to make a good faith effort to purchase the property at current market values. A trial date has been scheduled for Jan. 8, 2009, in Lake County Superior Court, at which time any party can object to the appraisers' report.

The city made its first offer to the property owners in 2002, along with an offer to give the Webers an equivalent business site. Meanwhile, the Redevelopment Commission has acquired some 15 parcels in the designated redevelopment area.

The other stumbling block to Trail Creek development is the Blocksom & Co. plant on Trail Creek. The Redevelopment Commission has been talking about acquiring the property from Blocksom for almost 10 years.

At this point, Bergerson said, a company consultant is studying the costs of moving existing equipment to a new plant compared to purchasing new equipment for a new site. Blocksom is in the process of locating a suitable site in the area. Progress has been slow on the few issues left to be resolved between the city and manufacturer.

Blocksom & Co. has operated in Michigan City since 1919. It is a diversified manufacturer of natural fiber products for industries such as heating and air-conditioning, furniture, U.S. government and military, construction and aquaculture.

*

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Roger Kaputnik]

If the small space 'twixt Mich. Blvd. and the Creek is built up, then there will be no incentive to build up the area across Mich. Blvd. The small area will be ok for a while, but the much bigger surrounding area will continue to languish.

I refer the Gentle Reader to the scads of enk on this topic above in this thread and in the several others addressing this issue.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=46146.41

Attorney: Appraisals lower than city's offers

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Appraisals for properties the city has been trying to acquire for more than six years came in lower than the prices the city previously offered the owners.

Attorney Michael Bergerson told the Redevelopment Commission on Monday the three court-appointed appraisers completed their assessments of Weber Sign Service owned by William and Kathy Weber, and the former Icehouse property owned by Thomas and Florence Sobkowiak.

Both properties are at Eighth Street and Michigan Boulevard.

Bergerson said the Weber parcel was appraised at $150,000 and the Sobkowiak land at $300,000. The appraisals do not take into account the cleanup costs for the two properties. Initial environmental assessments of the two adjacent sites put cleanup costs in excess of $1 million.

Lake County Superior Judge Calvin Hawkins is hearing the case, filed by the property owners against the Redevelopment Commission on the grounds the commission hadn't made a good-faith effort to purchase the properties, and failed to provide them with appraisals.

The Redevelopment Commission voted to authorize Bergerson to file an objection to Hawkins' decision to remove remediation costs from the appraisals. Commissioners also voted to pay the total fee of $10,000 to the three appraisers.

At the direction of the commission, Bergerson will ask the judge to allow the city and property owners to try to work out a settlement before the scheduled trial date of March 5 and 6.

"This could save $25,000 in legal fees for each property," Bergerson said.

If a settlement is not reached, Bergerson said he was confident the jury would rule on the property values March 6. A final decision will allow the city to acquire the properties and move forward with the Lafayette/Barker storm sewer project, relieving the threat of flooding for hundreds of area homeowners.

"We've gone far and beyond what would be expected to get this matter resolved," Bergerson said.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Southsider2k12]

I know it isn't City news, but it is a pretty good sign to me that any Trail Creek corridor work is DOA until the economy recovers.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=48719.09

NewPorte Landing developer pulls out of project

Craig Davison
For The News-Dispatch

LA PORTE - The developer of a proposed 150-acre retail development north of downtown La Porte has pulled out of the project.

Miller-Valentine Group was the developer of NewPorte Landing until it notified the city last week it was withdrawing, but La Porte Mayor Kathy Chroback has said the project is not dead.

Declining market conditions was the reason for Miller-Valentine's withdrawal, according to a statement. Jerry Atkins, president of Miller-Valentine Commercial Development, did not return calls left at his Cincinnati office.

In a statement, Atkins said they had a "spirit of cooperation" with the city in the venture and left a chance for future involvement.

"Should the economic climate change and the opportunity still be available, we would welcome the chance to take this project to completion," Atkins said.

Chroback said they've been communicating with Miller-Valentine for the past month, but nothing was moving forward. She said she wasn't completely surprised.

"We're trying to be optimistic about it," Chroback said. "It's a setback, obviously. But we've come a long way and gotten the land cleaned up. It will be developed at some point. We're past the worst part of it."

She said city officials were going to try to continue with environmental cleanup at the site. Chroback said she still believes the site will be developed.

"I know that when the economy turns around, we'll be able to market it," she said.

Chroback said the city has not contacted any other developers yet, citing that it's not "a good time to be doing that."

NewPorte Landing is a project years in the making.

It was a large part of former Mayor Leigh Morris's administration. He said the city had a positive relationship with the firm.

"This is obviously very concerning," Morris said. "NewPorte Landing represents probably the best opportunity La Porte has for repositioning itself as a vital community with a major retailing role."

Morris said several changes have happened since he left office, like the economy drastically changing.

Reliance Capitol Management LLC, the company initially contracted to develop the property since March of last year, was acquired by Miller-Valentine in November. Atkins, the CEO of Reliance, was brought on to Miller-Valentine as an executive.

Cleanup was slower on the site than expected and, in September, it was reported that Reliance was having problems finding tenants for the development.

A few years ago, the city acquired 30 acres of the land through eminent domain.

Most of 2007 and 2008 were part of the first phase of cleanup, which included removing the former Allis-Chalmers building and asbestos.

The city could still move forward with phase two of cleanup, even though Miller-Valentine was previously slated to do it.

Community Development and Planning Director Mary Jane Thomas said phase two would cost the city almost $2 million and that figure doesn't include additional investigation costs or design costs.

Phase two includes soil and water testing, as well as an engineered barrier and other work. The city plans to see if grants are available to help with the cost.

Morris said he was disappointed this happened, but said a lot of things have progressed in the past five years. He said it will take persistence and continued effort for it to succeed.

"A lot of things are in line (now)," Morris said.

q

Reporter Timothy O'Connor contributed to this report.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=41997.04

City: Firm can lead to master developer
MICHIGAN CITY - The city could spend some $36,000 to hire a destination development consulting firm to help secure a master developer charged with transforming the city's historic North End.

That's according to John Pugh, Michigan City director of planning. Pugh said he'll recommend to the Redevelopment Commission at its May meeting that it accept a proposal from Hunden Strategic Partners, Chicago, to assist with the search for a master developer.

Finding a developer would be a new experience for the city, Pugh said, and Hunden's expertise would be needed.

"I think he (Hunden) has the contacts that can find some (developers)," Pugh said. "I think it will be kind of a slow process."

Rob Hunden, who lives in Beverly Shores, gave a presentation to the Redevelopment Commission on Monday that outlined his firm's services and qualifications. Hunden Strategic Partners works nationwide and has completed more than 200 projects, primarily in urban areas.

Hunden said it's a time-consuming and expensive process for developers to respond to requests for proposals.

"You want to make sure you're doing the right thing to induce them," he said.

The city has taken the proper steps to commission previous studies that lay the foundation for a developer, according to Hunden. The city paid Lohan-Anderson, a Chicago architecture planning firm, about $30,000 in 2007 to produce a conceptual plan for North End redevelopment. It called for mixed-use residential and retail elements.

In 2008, the city spent another $54,000 to hire Tracy Cross & Associates, a real estate consulting firm based in Schaumburg, Ill., to produce a market assessment study, which was recommended by Lohan-Anderson.

According to The News-Dispatch archives, Redevelopment Commission President Ken Behrendt said the Tracy Cross study "will help investors understand the demographics of the area, the types of residential and commercial development that can be absorbed by the market and the level of interest in it."

Pugh said, "Each (study) is a different task. The plan was first, then the market study and now we'll look for a master developer. We're following a road map."

As a destination development consultant, Hunden said his firm would check credentials and references of master developers, visit their projects and evaluate proposals. Hunden said he worked with Boyd Gaming on the two Blue Chip expansions, as well as projects in Valparaiso, South Bend, Indianapolis, Bloomington and Fort Wayne.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=22773

Affordable housing touted
City native proposes concept as boost to Trail Creek development.

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Should plans for Trail Creek redevelopment include affordable residences for working families and seniors on fixed incomes?

Yes, says Kyle Bach, a Michigan City native who is president and CEO of Mecca Companies, a Mishawaka-based developer of multi-family and senior housing.

"We're interested in becoming the catalyst for the Trail Creek development by providing much-needed affordable housing," Bach said.

He was at the April 13 Redevelopment Commission meeting to urge members to include mixed housing in plans presented to potential master developers. The commission is on the cusp of hiring a consulting firm to help secure a master development company that would transform the city's historic North End.

Bach said he's had preliminary discussions with Mayor Chuck Oberlie and Director of Planning John Pugh about the possibility of building two- and three-bedroom rental townhouses in the square block between Fifth and Sixth streets and Pine and Spring streets - an area largely vacant. He said rents would be about $500 for a one-bedroom and $575 for a two-bedroom unit per month for those with annual incomes of $24,000 to $36,000.

Oberlie said employers in the North End offer a built-in market for a mixed-income housing development.

"The near proximity to work would encourage pedestrian movements versus lengthy daily commutes," Oberlie said. "The inclusion of affordable housing will strengthen the livability of the downtown."

Bach believes there is an untapped need to provide affordable housing to hourly wage employees at Blue Chip Casino and other businesses in the targeted redevelopment area. In a recent informal survey of Blue Chip employees, Bach said nearly all of those he talked to lived outside Michigan City.

"When I asked if they would consider a housing option near their place of work," Bach said, "virtually all responded, 'Yes, if affordable and safe'."

Bach's company completed a similar affordable housing development near Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant, Mich. He said all properties created by Mecca Companies throughout the Midwest are totally occupied and have waiting lists. Residential units are necessary to attract retail development.

"My impression is that the commercial and retail component they're considering is difficult to obtain without a significant amount of rooftops," Bach said.

Besides keeping employee dollars in Michigan City, housing construction would provide jobs to local workers and business for suppliers of building materials, Bach pointed out.

"I hope the Redevelopment Commission heard what I had to say," Bach said.

q

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Dave]

I'm sorry, but .... WTF?

Oberlie said employers in the North End offer a built-in market for a mixed-income housing development.

Other than the casino and Blocksom, what employers are you talking about Chuck? NIPSCO? City Hall? The North End doesn't seem to have all that many employers, but maybe I don't see them because I live here. Correct me please.

As for Mr. Bach, I can understand why he's interested in mixed income housing -- that's his line of work. However, I really think the north end doesn't need what he's suggesting. The north end has some of the most prime real estate in Indiana, due to it's proximity to Lake Michigan. Targeting this area for mixed income housing doesn't strike me as the best idea.

[Ang]

I agree with Dave on this issue. And this is why:

"When I asked if they would consider a housing option near their place of work," Bach said, "virtually all responded, 'Yes, if affordable and safe'."

I lived in that neighborhood in the 70's and it wasn't safe back then. So what's changed to make it safe now?


And as for employers on the north end, I believe the Mayor might be thinking about the retail district on Wabash. Those jobs would certainly qualify the lower end of "mixed income" AND they're within a comfortable walking distance of the proposed site.

[Michelle]

I'm a little interested in this development, depending on how it pans out. Another rental option is always nice.

[IndyTransplant]

I agree with Dave on this issue. And this is why:



I lived in that neighborhood in the 70's and it wasn't safe back then. So what's changed to make it safe now?


And as for employers on the north end, I believe the Mayor might be thinking about the retail district on Wabash. Those jobs would certainly qualify the lower end of "mixed income" AND they're within a comfortable walking distance of the proposed site.

As Michelle pointed out that would be less than 2 blocks to the library. There is also the Lighthouse outlets as Ang pointed out, plus the businesses on Franklin Street, the employees at the restaurants on the North End. There are actually very many businesses in that area that employ people and the mixed income housing is a good solution for Michigan City. It has been done successfully in other small cities and even in Indianapolis. it is also not close enough to the lake to be considered prime lake land.

As a newcomer, I am often in the area of Washington, Franklin and Pine between 4th and 9th and like the area. I watch the crime news here, am on the list for crime alerts, and since Michelle works with several policeman also, feel I have some handle on the crime in MC. First of all there is an amazing low amount of murders here (and most of these have been domestic or non-stranger murders), and a very small amount of violent crime. The majority of the crime here seems to fall into the house and business robbery category and drunk or under the influence of something driving. The crime spoken of on this board and the number of unsafe areas spoken of often seems to relate to years back or personal opinions. I told Michelle I would like to check out the company's other housing complexes to see how they are constructed, but overall think the idea is a good one.

[Ang]

My experiences are, of course, in the past as I have been gone from MC for four years. However, walking down the Blvd is not a good idea unless you want to be harassed, intimidated, or worse--Period. Housing complexes in that area have typically not ended well. It seems to start out okay, but after a few years they begin to look "slumly" and in disrepair. After a few more years they end up being torn down so they can try again a few years later, a few blocks over, with something else.
I believe the idea is a good one, but the City will have to take steps to make sure the area stays clean and drug/crime free. Don't let happen to the new place as what's happened in the past.

[IndyTransplant]

My experiences are, of course, in the past as I have been gone from MC for four years. However, walking down the Blvd is not a good idea unless you want to be harassed, intimidated, or worse--Period. Housing complexes in that area have typically not ended well. It seems to start out okay, but after a few years they begin to look "slumly" and in disrepair. After a few more years they end up being torn down so they can try again a few years later, a few blocks over, with something else.
I believe the idea is a good one, but the City will have to take steps to make sure the area stays clean and drug/crime free. Don't let happen to the new place as what's happened in the past.

I appreciate the insight and information. The area mentioned was the vacant block between 5th and 6th on Pine. I made a point to go up there this evening and felt perfectly safe. This land is next to what appears to be doctor and other offices, just south of 5th Third Bank and less than a block and a half from the library. While I was there this evening, there were neighbors just south of 6th on Pine chatting on porches and street corners (people in their 40s and 50s mostly) and I saw two children leave the library, carrying books & talking, turn south on Pine and appearing to be heading home together. It was a pleasant spring evening feel. I also drove around the blocks again heading home tonight....neighbors still chatting and no feeling of anything other than people driving by to their homes or night out (some probably casino bound), or relaxing in and around their homes. The businesses of course were closed by then. All in all it left me with the same feelings I have always had in that area. An area of older homes (most kept neat and some quite beautiful and a few needing some work) and businesses and people going about their daily lives.

As I said my concerns fall on how the buildings are constructed. I am most interested in whether they are built well and will withstand the years and weather well. I would like them not to be too out of step with the general architecture of the area just to the south and west of there. But that is not an absolute necessity given that the other buildings just to the north are of a different architecture also. Therefore I would like to drive through other housing areas this company has built.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=39685.08

Process begins to raze former Icehouse site

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Bulldozers are clearing trees and debris from the former Icehouse property prior to razing the brick building at Michigan Boulevard and Eighth Street on Monday.

That's according to Mike Bergerson, attorney for the Michigan City Redevelopment Commission, which awarded the demolition contract to Bechstein Construction Co., Tinley Park, Ill.

"They will create a berm so runoff doesn't go into Trail Creek," he said. "It will be directed into the sanitary sewer so it can be treated."

The city will take possession of the Weber Sign Service in less than a month, Bergerson said, and that building will remain for possible use by the contractor for the Lafayette/Barker storm sewer project.

Weber Sign Service is owned by William and Kathy Weber, and the former Icehouse property owners are Thomas and Florence Sobkowiak. For six years, they've been fighting the city over the purchase prices offered for their parcels.

Recent appraisals came in lower than previous offers from the city, Bergerson said. And the appraisers didn't include costs of environmental remediation at the sites, estimated by Bergerson to be about $250,000 at this point.

Lake County Superior Judge Calvin Hawkins is hearing the case, which was set to go to trial April 30. A jury will determine fair property prices. However, during an April 26 pre-trial conference, the property owners were given additional time to hire their own environmental remediation experts, Bergerson said. The legal battle has been pushed to July.

"They've only had six years and they've never done anything," Bergerson said about the property owners.

In April, Sobkowiak contacted The News-Dispatch with concerns about how the city has handled Trail Creek property deals. He said the city paid $325,000 to the owners of Benz Marina, which also required cleanup of pollutants. Sobkowiak said his property was sold to the city for $360,000 in 2003, but the offer was rescinded five months later.

According to Bergerson, the payment to Benz Marina owners compensated them for the value of their building. That does not apply to the former Icehouse building, he said. The sale of the Icehouse property was halted by the city after an environmental inspection put the cost of cleanup at close to $1 million, Bergerson said.

Sobkowiak said the city is wasting taxpayer money by paying Bergerson an annual fee for advising the Redevelopment Commission while the Indianapolis firm of Baker & Daniels is litigating the property dispute. Bergerson said he is supervising the work of Baker & Daniels attorneys, and his annual fee covers additional legal services provided to the commission.

The city has been purchasing and remediating former industrial sites along the Trail Creek as part of the North End redevelopment plan. Recently, Michigan City was one of 56 communities in the Great Lakes states to get two $200,000 federal grants for hazardous waste removal at the Norfolk & Western rail spur, west of E Street and south of Trail Creek, and the former Erincraft facility, 742 E. Eighth St. According to city planner John Pugh, that work is expected to start this summer.

The other stumbling block to Trail Creek redevelopment is the Blocksom & Co. plant on Trail Creek, which the Redevelopment Commission has tried to acquire for almost 10 years. Blocksom is attempting to find a suitable relocation site, Bergerson said, and the process of resolving remaining issues between the city and manufacturer has been slow.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=25831

City plans to raze stretch of homes

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - A one-block stretch of properties on East Sixth Street is set to be demolished following the city's purchase of one remaining parcel.

The Redevelopment Commission has authorized its attorney, Michael Bergerson, to move ahead with the purchase of 404 E. Sixth St., where an abandoned house sits. Bergerson said he's been in touch with the property owners and expects to purchase the parcel for an amount under $40,000.

The Redevelopment Commission previously spent about $150,000 to purchase three other properties at 408, 410 and 412 Sixth Street. Two of them were abandoned.

The block runs west off Michigan Boulevard, across The Boulevard from properties included in the Trail Creek redevelopment. The property is considered a prime location for future redevelopment projects, Bergerson said.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...20346207667.txt

2 houses left to buy for TC redevelopment

Matt Field/The News-Dispatch An area along Sixth Street West of Michigan Boulevard to be redeveloped as part of the Trail Creek corridor.
Four vacant lots also need acquisition
By Matt Field
Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 4:14 AM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — With the purchase of just two more houses, the city will control nearly all of the properties officials hope will eventually make up a transformed Trail Creek corridor.

Ken Behrendt, president of the Redevelopment Commission, said that while purchase of two houses isn’t required before the city can begin the search for a developer, it would make the project more appealing to potential developers.

“It’d be less of an unknown for them,” Behrendt said.

In addition to the two houses, commission attorney Michael Bergerson said the commission wants to acquire four vacant lots as part of the project.

Behrendt said a major unresolved issue that the city needs to deal with before issuing a Request for Qualifications, the document that the city will use to find a developer, is the relocation of the Port Authority’s Trail Creek Marina. The commission would like to be able to state in the RFQ that it is working with the Port Authority to find a viable alternative to the present location.

While Behrendt said the Port Authority has agreed to assist the Redevelopment Commission as it moves forward on the project, more work needs to be done. He doesn’t anticipate a problem in finding a workable solution to the marina issue.

“I wouldn’t say it’s standing in the way. It hasn’t been an obstacle; it’s not like they’re not cooperating.”

The four lots are also not necessary to issuing the RFQ document, Bergerson said.

Finding a developer is just one step toward transforming the area.

Behrendt said that due to the weak economy, it’s difficult to predict when development will begin.

“It will be development-ready,” he said. “When the market is ready, then we’ll be ready.”

The city already has reached an agreement with the owners of one of the most important parts of land, the 11-acre Blocksom & Co. site, to include it in the development. The city won’t own the property outright, rather Blocksom will either partner with the developer or sell the property.

Controlling big parcels like Blocksom means the project can move forward even without the properties on Sixth Street, Behrendt said.

“They’re small parcels,” he said. “None of them are along the creek. We have large segments of property that can be developed without them.”

The city has previously agreed to pay Blocksom about $6 million in Tax Increment Financing money to relocate, Behrendt said. It will also loan the company money to either build or buy that facility. He said that even if the corridor is not immediately redeveloped, having Blocksom moved will benefit residents.

The commission also voted at its meeting Monday to find a firm to maintain the properties it does own. City Planner John Pugh said he will look for a firm to mow about a dozen properties that the city has gained control of as it moves forward with the Trail Creek corridor plan. He also received authorizations to find firms to test the soil in the redevelopment area to determine what sort of structures the land can accommodate.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...1c476075454.txt

Trying to spark interest

City officials show off site of redevelopment
By Matt Field
Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 5:11 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — City officials took dozens of architects, engineers and others on a tour of the Trail Creek area Friday, with the city hoping to spark the interest of a developer willing to take on the redevelopment project.

Redevelopment Commission President Ken Behrendt said Monday the tour started on a high-up floor at the Blue Chip Casino to give the visitors a view of the entire project area.

“Everybody was impressed with the possibilities,” Behrendt said. “Now we’ll see who actually steps to the table and actually submits proposals.”

Rob Hunden, president of Hunden Strategic Partners, who is working with the commission to find a developer for Trail Creek, appeared disappointed that more actual developers didn’t show up for the tour.

“We were a little bit concerned that the number of developers was pretty low,” he told the commission Monday. “We had a lot of architects and engineers that of course are going to be interested and they are talking to their development contacts.”

The city has been engaged in a long-standing effort to dramatically transform Trail Creek from an industrial area to a residential neighborhood, replete with high-rise towers and other amenities.

Although the city has been working to prepare the area, it needs to find a developer to actually draw up blueprints and begin redevelopment.

City officials appear to be closer to finding a site to relocate the Trail Creek Marina, which occupies 7 acres in the midst of the 25-acre redevelopment area.

At Monday’s meeting, Commission Attorney Michael Bergerson said that the Port Authority, which operates the Trail Creek Marina, won’t be an obstacle as the commission tries to get the redevelopment process started in earnest.

“Further conversations with major stakeholders like Blocksom as well as Port Authority reflect agreement on both parts that those properties and stakeholders will not stand in our way and will support the efforts to redevelop the Trail Creek corridor.”

Blocksom & Co., which occupies 11 acres on the creek, has a relocation site in mind, City Planner John Pugh said.

The city already has an agreement with the company, which will either partner with the eventual developer or sell the property.

Would-be developers have until Oct. 12 to submit their responses to the city’s request for qualifications.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20...150360/1013/Biz

Memorial Hospital & Health System
September 15. 2010 6:59AM
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Keen eye on development
Michigan City recruiting proposals for a transformation

By STAN MADDUX
Tribune Correspondent

MICHIGAN CITY — Michigan City is actively trying to recruit developers for a north end groomed for a complete makeover.

More than 40 developers, architects and others in the investment world were given a view of the possibilities on Friday from atop the Blue Chip Casino Hotel and Conference Center.

Officials are hoping the effort will pay dividends when proposals from developers are due in October.

Memorial Hospital & Health System
"There's a real opportunity here for someone with a vision," said Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie.

Seen from the top of the Blue Chip were things like the ongoing beautification and reconstruction of U.S. 35, which is the main corridor leading to the casino and lakefront, along with dirt being moved for the new Gateway Park along Trail Creek across from Blue Chip.

Oberlie said a view of the ongoing construction should help convince prospective higher end commercial and residential developers that Michigan City is serious about launching a complete transformation of the downtown area.

Also showcased from the sky were other strengths such as cleared and cleaned sites that are ready to build on, and traffic created by revenue generators already in place like Blue Chip, Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets and the nearby lakefront.

Progress seems to be speeding up. For years, the city has been preparing for the final push for complete north end redevelopment by acquiring properties along Trail Creek and surrounding areas.

Some were contaminated industrial parcels that are in the process of being cleaned up.

The city's vision is to have hundreds of new residential units and then market them to second homeowners from the Chicago area and young professionals and employees in the downtown who would rather walk or bicycle to work.

By the end of the year, Oberlie said the goal is to find a developer to lay out and implement a plan that could also call for more hotels and other businesses like restaurants and entertainment centers.

"Our purpose is to find the right partner," Oberlie said.

The first construction is possible toward the end of 2012, he said.

Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce President Tim Bietry said that Michigan City's biggest advantage over other communities is that it's a clean canvas.

"All of the groundwork and all of the infrastructure has been put into place to move on a project of this magnitude," Bietry said.

[MichiganCityDDS]

the mayor says, "...someone with a vision."
I think we can agree that given the decades-long involvement of the nomenklatura of MC in the planning process, that they are all excluded. I have decided that it would be better to leave the land fallow for another generation of leaders to arise.