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Hypnotic
post Mar 3 2015, 01:29 PM
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I think that we should have a thread where we can keep track of and discuss projects that are under construction, planned or proposed for the city. We can also exchange ideas about what types of developments Michigan City needs to attract to be competitive in the region. I am sort of a development nerd and the idea comes from 'Skyscraperpage' where the site is devoted to major construction projects from around the world.

Current projects and proposals:

Michigan City Police Station
Lifeworks Business Park
Construction on South Franklin
Realignment of Washington and Pine
New activities center/pavilion at Washington Park
U.S. 421 Overpass
U.S. 12 bridge
Franklin Street Bridge
LMGIS
Art Space
Proposed "up-scale" hotel for North End
Former Memorial Hospital Site
Trail Creek Corridor
Beautification of Nipsco Cooling Tower
Nipsco "Scrubber"
NICTD Track Realignment

We have a lot of development in the works. I've always felt that Michigan City is a sleeping giant that has the potential to dominate the region. We have had multiple developers envision high-rises and mid-rises in the city at various locations. I can remember back in 2006-2007 a developer from Chicago wanted to demolish Galveston Steakhouse and erect a 13 story "S" shaped condo on the site before the economy collapsed. Another developer proposed two 20 story condo/hotel buildings for the former Memorial Hospital site and Lohan-Anderson recommended 3-24 story condos for Trail Creek next to Blue Chip. The possibilities are endless but the city must rid itself of the terrible NIMBY'ism which harms our growth.

I hope to hear of other projects in the city that people have knowledge of that I am unaware of and welcome even rumors. For instance, I have a friend with ties to sources in the city and he has stated that they are working towards Marquette Mall being demolished with the city claiming emanate domain. Whether it is substantial I don't know but it is certainly conceivable and necessary. He also claimed that the mall doubled the rent of Applebee's and that is why they exited the city. I hope Michigan City does not work to just become Valparaiso redux which I fear is the idea. Michigan City has a unique opportunity to become more South Bend like with major developments. We have almost double the Sq. Mileage of Valpo and La Porte. The problem is Michigan City is largely underdeveloped. We have large swaths of land primed for mixed use projects. Cleveland Ave. for one has the potential to be even more prominent with a greater density than Franklin Street yet it has attracted no interest from what I can glean. The sign for "Cleveland Crossing" has been up for 8-10 years. I would also like to see Michigan City attract more authentic ethnic restaurants and other businesses to give more of a big city feel by offering something for everyone and widening the demographics rather than just being a high-end mono-cultural boutique city like Valpo. A market research company suggested Michigan City also attract a college campus somewhere downtown to give a "university feel" to the North End. Either PNC, Ivy Tech or I.U. That would be an excellent idea to bolster growth.
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Hypnotic
post Mar 4 2015, 11:52 AM
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QUOTE(taxthedeer @ Mar 4 2015, 08:12 AM) *

I recall that back in the early 90s right after I moved here that Buddy Myers of the Chicago Wolves hockey team as looking into building an indoor event arena in Michigan City. He wanted to locate it across from the airport on U.S. 35 where they keep talking about putting in a truck stop. The three county commissioners that were in at the time who are now all deseased wanted a big chunk of the revenue and mayor Brillson wanted to locate it on the old Memorial Hospital property. Nothing ever came to fruition.


I remember that as well. Brillson also wanted to bring a 2nd casino, (she fought for Four Winds and land based gaming but the state law did not pass) a minor league baseball team and a regional airport. She had great vision and passion. We have not had a mayor to match her vision for Michigan City. She was responsible for much of the growth that we experienced.

As for the mall, it is a blight and I have no clue why nothing is being done about it. All I have heard is that the owners are obstinate and can afford to operate at a loss essentially forever. This is supposedly why the city is at the emanate domain stage as all other options have been exhausted. Though the city has been negotiating with Blocksom for over a decade. If the mall goes anything like that then this will be a futile notion. A Shoe Carnival manager told me last year he heard that a Macy's is supposed to take over the Penney's building. Then they announced their closing a few months later. I hope this isn't true and the mall is indeed demolished. I think there is more potential for the location than what a rejuvenated mall would bring.
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taxthedeer
post Mar 5 2015, 08:31 AM
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QUOTE(Hypnotic @ Mar 4 2015, 11:52 AM) *

I remember that as well. Brillson also wanted to bring a 2nd casino, (she fought for Four Winds and land based gaming but the state law did not pass) a minor league baseball team and a regional airport. She had great vision and passion. We have not had a mayor to match her vision for Michigan City. She was responsible for much of the growth that we experienced.

As for the mall, it is a blight and I have no clue why nothing is being done about it. All I have heard is that the owners are obstinate and can afford to operate at a loss essentially forever. This is supposedly why the city is at the emanate domain stage as all other options have been exhausted. Though the city has been negotiating with Blocksom for over a decade. If the mall goes anything like that then this will be a futile notion. A Shoe Carnival manager told me last year he heard that a Macy's is supposed to take over the Penney's building. Then they announced their closing a few months later. I hope this isn't true and the mall is indeed demolished. I think there is more potential for the location than what a rejuvenated mall would bring.

Marquete Mall property would be an ideal location for the Northwest Indiana Convention and Event Center similar to Donald E. Stevens in Rosemont, IL or McCormick Place in Chicago. There is nothing like that anywhere in the Northwest Indiana region.
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Hypnotic
post Mar 9 2015, 01:09 AM
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QUOTE(taxthedeer @ Mar 5 2015, 08:31 AM) *

Marquete Mall property would be an ideal location for the Northwest Indiana Convention and Event Center similar to Donald E. Stevens in Rosemont, IL or McCormick Place in Chicago. There is nothing like that anywhere in the Northwest Indiana region.


A convention center with a mixed use high-rise tower including hotel/office/retail/restaurants and perhaps live theater space ala "Star Plaza" would be such a perfect utilization of the property and put the city on the proverbial map. Or the site could serve as a satellite campus for a major university with a combination of low & mid-rise offices, halls and dorms and an athletics facility.

Sadly, knowing Michigan City if anything we will see strip malls, banks and gas stations go up in it's place if anything ever happens.

It would require an ambitious developer and a substantial investment on the city's behalf but the rewards would be incalculable.
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Southsider2k12
post Mar 9 2015, 11:42 AM
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QUOTE(Hypnotic @ Mar 9 2015, 02:09 AM) *

A convention center with a mixed use high-rise tower including hotel/office/retail/restaurants and perhaps live theater space ala "Star Plaza" would be such a perfect utilization of the property and put the city on the proverbial map. Or the site could serve as a satellite campus for a major university with a combination of low & mid-rise offices, halls and dorms and an athletics facility.

Sadly, knowing Michigan City if anything we will see strip malls, banks and gas stations go up in it's place if anything ever happens.

It would require an ambitious developer and a substantial investment on the city's behalf but the rewards would be incalculable.


With the local demographics, it would be a really tough sell when compared to the communities around us. You need a pretty white collar, college educated community to not only to support that type of development, but also to staff it. Too many of our college grads are lone gone to greener fields in other towns.
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Hypnotic
post Mar 12 2015, 11:49 AM
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QUOTE(Southsider2k12 @ Mar 9 2015, 12:42 PM) *

[/b]

With the local demographics, it would be a really tough sell when compared to the communities around us. You need a pretty white collar, college educated community to not only to support that type of development, but also to staff it. Too many of our college grads are lone gone to greener fields in other towns.


Well I would think a new campus for a major university would attract people from the entire region. A college like Indiana, Purdue or Ball State etc. etc. have the resources to fully staff a new institution through recruitment. The reputation alone would attract students and faculty. Imagine news of a "Northern Ball State" coming to Michigan City. That would resonate through the entire Midwest. PNC is flourishing, something on an even bigger scale I believe would succeed in a city environment. One thing that lacks with every other school in the area other than Valpo is a Division 1 athletics program. That would definitely increase viability. I think an 8-10 thousand student capacity sized school would offer competition to attract students and faculty headed to Purdue/I.U./Valpo or out of state.

There are plenty Michigan City residents who could now attend school at home. For instance I know many people who attend Michigan City Ivy Tech and their number one complaint is that they have to travel to South Bend or Valpo for most of the classes that they take since the city campus offers so little. Nursing is the only program I see people actually graduating from and going on to find high wage jobs. My wife had to attend Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor for Dental Hygienist. There are just so few options in Michigan City. It would take years and a few phases but feasible. We have the land across from the airport which could house it or along 94, 400.

Having said all that, I know there is no way anything like this ever happens. I don't even foresee a Valpo sized Ivy Tech ever being built in Michigan City. They won't even build a new High School after combining both and supposedly being on sinking land.

Daniel Burnham said, "Make no little plans, for they have no magic to stir men's blood." The Michigan City NIMBY's need to heed this advice.
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Southsider2k12
post Mar 12 2015, 01:40 PM
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QUOTE(Hypnotic @ Mar 12 2015, 12:49 PM) *

Well I would think a new campus for a major university would attract people from the entire region. A college like Indiana, Purdue or Ball State etc. etc. have the resources to fully staff a new institution through recruitment. The reputation alone would attract students and faculty. Imagine news of a "Northern Ball State" coming to Michigan City. That would resonate through the entire Midwest. PNC is flourishing, something on an even bigger scale I believe would succeed in a city environment. One thing that lacks with every other school in the area other than Valpo is a Division 1 athletics program. That would definitely increase viability. I think an 8-10 thousand student capacity sized school would offer competition to attract students and faculty headed to Purdue/I.U./Valpo or out of state.

There are plenty Michigan City residents who could now attend school at home. For instance I know many people who attend Michigan City Ivy Tech and their number one complaint is that they have to travel to South Bend or Valpo for most of the classes that they take since the city campus offers so little. Nursing is the only program I see people actually graduating from and going on to find high wage jobs. My wife had to attend Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor for Dental Hygienist. There are just so few options in Michigan City. It would take years and a few phases but feasible. We have the land across from the airport which could house it or along 94, 400.

Having said all that, I know there is no way anything like this ever happens. I don't even foresee a Valpo sized Ivy Tech ever being built in Michigan City. They won't even build a new High School after combining both and supposedly being on sinking land.

Daniel Burnham said, "Make no little plans, for they have no magic to stir men's blood." The Michigan City NIMBY's need to heed this advice.


I would love to see it happen. I really would. Ultimately these places have to make money, or they won't survive. That is the biggest hang up. There has to be a market to support the underlying business.
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Posts in this topic
Hypnotic   MIchigan City Development Thread!   Mar 3 2015, 01:29 PM
taxthedeer   Glad to hear the city is doing something about Mar...   Mar 3 2015, 05:34 PM
taxthedeer   I recall that back in the early 90s right after I ...   Mar 4 2015, 08:12 AM
Hypnotic   I recall that back in the early 90s right after I...   Mar 4 2015, 11:52 AM
taxthedeer   I remember that as well. Brillson also wanted to ...   Mar 5 2015, 08:31 AM
Hypnotic   Marquete Mall property would be an ideal location...   Mar 9 2015, 01:09 AM
Southsider2k12   A convention center with a mixed use high-rise to...   Mar 9 2015, 11:42 AM
Hypnotic   With the local demographics, it would be a real...   Mar 12 2015, 11:49 AM
Southsider2k12   Well I would think a new campus for a major unive...   Mar 12 2015, 01:40 PM
Hypnotic   I would love to see it happen. I really would. ...   Mar 13 2015, 11:05 AM
Southsider2k12   Look at similarly sized Kalamazoo for example, (l...   Mar 13 2015, 03:04 PM
Hypnotic   Who exactly is looking to build a new university ...   Mar 14 2015, 04:30 PM
Southsider2k12   Well obviously this is a hypothetical conversatio...   Mar 15 2015, 11:36 AM
Hypnotic   All of the things you are mentioning have one thi...   Mar 17 2015, 04:39 PM
Southsider2k12   I guess we are at an impasse as I see a universit...   Mar 17 2015, 06:14 PM
outsider   Do you think Blue Chip blindly picked Michigan Cit...   Mar 15 2015, 10:05 PM
Hypnotic   If memory serves me - No one picked MC for a cas...   Mar 17 2015, 04:25 PM
outsider   Blue Chip casino was actively pursing a lakefront...   Mar 17 2015, 08:24 PM
taxthedeer   The City was not seeking a casino at the time. T...   Mar 17 2015, 09:31 PM
taxthedeer   Well I would think a new campus for a major unive...   Mar 12 2015, 07:08 PM
Hypnotic   I remember there was once two grocery stores at t...   Mar 13 2015, 11:32 AM
taxthedeer   Wow thanks, for the life of me I could not rememb...   Mar 13 2015, 12:10 PM
lovethiscity   Wow thanks, for the life of me I could not rememb...   Apr 3 2015, 04:49 AM
taxthedeer   There is talk about tearing down the old Chrysler ...   Mar 5 2015, 03:05 PM
Hypnotic   There is talk about tearing down the old Chrysler...   Mar 9 2015, 12:57 AM
taxthedeer   I hope they do tear that down, that has been an e...   Mar 11 2015, 08:25 AM
Hypnotic   Once Super Save went bankrupt mayor Meer as well ...   Mar 12 2015, 10:51 AM
taxthedeer   Current projects and proposals: Michigan City P...   Mar 9 2015, 12:17 PM
Southsider2k12   Another thing you didn't mention was the NICT...   Mar 9 2015, 01:43 PM
taxthedeer   Take I-94 to Chicago. Right off the expressway in...   Mar 12 2015, 12:04 PM
Hypnotic   I don't know whether it's true or not but ...   Mar 12 2015, 12:12 PM
Hypnotic   Holladay Properties must be doing a terrible job m...   Mar 14 2015, 05:46 PM
taxthedeer   Bids are now being accepted to tear down the Flami...   Mar 26 2015, 07:50 PM
taxthedeer   The former crumbling former Flannigan Tire Buildin...   Apr 2 2015, 08:35 PM
Hypnotic   I was very surprised and elated to see that big, w...   Apr 6 2015, 10:43 AM
taxthedeer   I see that Ball St. is going to conduct a $11...   Aug 12 2015, 05:59 PM
taxthedeer   Happy to see the old and abandoned Flamingo Record...   Sep 15 2015, 11:10 AM
taxthedeer   West Side Liquors on Willard Ave. has been demolis...   Sep 16 2015, 04:39 PM
Hypnotic   They just broke ground on this new $20 mi...   Nov 11 2016, 10:39 PM
diggler   http://oi64.tinypic.com/2lc7nup.jpg MC should ser...   Nov 12 2016, 07:56 AM
Hypnotic   ^^ The redevelopment and planning commissions need...   Nov 14 2016, 05:45 AM
Hypnotic   Wake up Craig Phillips and Richard Murphy!...   Nov 14 2016, 07:38 AM
Southsider2k12   Interesting thoughts about the architecture. Whil...   Nov 17 2016, 03:00 PM
Hypnotic   Interesting thoughts about the architecture. Whi...   Nov 18 2016, 04:44 PM
Hypnotic   I forgot to add that I.U. has broken ground on a 7...   Nov 19 2016, 12:58 AM
diggler   Hotel building boom sweeping Northwest Indiana Jo...   Nov 27 2016, 06:18 AM
Hypnotic   That is good news for the region and I hope Michig...   Dec 2 2016, 11:06 PM
Hypnotic   I wonder what's going on at Belle Tire that...   Dec 3 2016, 01:28 AM
Hypnotic   Here's an updated list of projects under contr...   Dec 3 2016, 03:01 AM
taxthedeer   Got a good chuckle when I read this sign on 8th St...   Jan 19 2017, 10:50 AM
diggler   Michigan City to copy Valparaiso's downtown pl...   Jan 23 2017, 03:25 PM
Southsider2k12   The tear down of 701-705 Franklin and building of ...   Jan 24 2017, 01:16 PM
Southsider2k12   The wreckers started taking down both the old MCPD...   Jan 25 2017, 02:14 PM
Jesse B   The wreckers started taking down both the old MCP...   Jan 25 2017, 03:13 PM
Southsider2k12   B)-->


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