[lighter]

In another sign of the end of local media, The News-Dispatch is leaving their current building.

I know someone who knows someone who knows ...

They told me they haven't hired a new position in years but they've fired several and even more have left on their own. They and the Argus share everything except a building, but I bet a half a horse that's about to change...

[Southsider2k12]

Interesting, because that is some expensive real estate right there.

[Southsider2k12]

Is this the ND land they are talking about???

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=52827.97

Commission may propose land purchase

A proposal for the city of Michigan City to purchase property adjacent to the police station and city hall will be introduced at Monday's Michigan City Redevelopment Commission meeting.

The redevelopment commission will decide whether to recommend the city council announce the resolution of the purchase at its June 2 meeting. The council will then vote on whether to purchase the property at its June 16 meeting.

[Homey]

Interesting!

More room for a new Police Station...or some property to build a new city hall to open Franklin Stree and the gateway to the lake?

[mcstumper]

City Hall is not in the way of Franklin St. It sits entirely to the east of the old street, with room to spare. The News-Dispatch building sits on the western two lanes of the old 4 lane Franklin St. Google Maps is your friend.

[JHeath]

City Hall is not in the way of Franklin St. It sits entirely to the east of the old street, with room to spare. The News-Dispatch building sits on the western two lanes of the old 4 lane Franklin St. Google Maps is your friend.

Very true, Stumper. But there would have to be a bit of re-routing of traffic wtih the way that the northernmost portion of Franklin from the portion near City Hall.

[lighter]

So here's a question. If that's such a prime piece of real estate, why is the city buying it?

Sure, it's convienent for the city, but is there some other reason? Seems like if it is such a prime spot, a private invester would have offered the ND much more than a public one. Is there going to be a bunch of pollution to clean up? There have long been rumors about ink barrels at that property ... hope the city isn't getting into something too costly...

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=39824.82

City to buy ND property

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved a resolution Monday to add The News-Dispatch building, 121 W. Michigan Blvd., to the city's property acquisition list.

The possible acquisition needs to be approved next by the planning commission and then by the city council.

Michael Bergerson, commission attorney, said the process of purchasing the building where The News-Dispatch is located will be the same one the city uses to purchase any real estate.

During public comment, Realtor Ed Merrion asked about the appraised value of the property. Ken Behrendt, commission president, said he hadn't seen the appraisal. According to John Pugh, city planner, negotiations about price can't take place until the city council has approved the purchase.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie said the Board of Public Works had the property appraised so the city could make an offer. He said the newspaper building could be used to temporarily or possibly permanently house the police department or other city departments. The police station was constructed in the early 1960s, Oberlie said, and the department has outgrown the facility.

"We know we have to do something with the police department," Oberlie said. "No decisions have been made." Oberlie said one possibility could be to create a city government campus in the area around city hall. The Michigan City Redevelopment Corporation would assist in finding a suitable relocation site within Michigan City for the newspaper.

Oberlie said The News-Dispatch building was among those constructed as part of a previous North End redevelopment in the 1970s. The first building was the post office on Washington Street, Oberlie said, followed by the newspaper building in 1973. City hall was constructed in 1979.

[Ang]

What about the people that work there? What is going to happen to them? I don't care about the building, but I am concerned for Parky

[Dave]

Oberlie said one possibility could be to create a city government campus in the area around city hall.

Great move, Chuckie. Using prime real estate which could have huge property tax returns for a city government campus is right up there with the Franklin Square idea you pushed through in the '70's!

[lovethiscity]

What about the people that work there? What is going to happen to them? I don't care about the building, but I am concerned for Parky

As the paper is no longer printed there, the need for space has changed.