QUOTE
Chamber hosts idea workshop for North End
By Amanda Haverstick, The News-Dispatch
Sue Bietry acts as the facilitator of one of six break-out groups discussing development on the North End on Wednesday at the Michigan City Senior Center. Photo/Anthony Lambre
The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce's development workshop for the North End may lead to a fruitful future for the city.
Michigan City Chamber of Commerce President Tim Bietry explained to the 120 people gathered at the Michigan City Senior Center on Wednesday evening that the seeds to the evening's workshop were laid five months ago.
Bietry said he and a number of Chamber members and other city residents wanted to refute an Anvil Chorus letter stating the city had no vision for development. The group also wanted to move beyond talking about the North End and make something happen.
“We decided we were going to form an ad hoc committee and do extensive research ... and print an educational piece for the community,” Bietry said. “Along the way, we became passionate about the issue. We also wanted to issue a call to action to the North End and all of Michigan City.”
The committee, said Bietry, became the Michigan City North End Advocacy Team (MC NEAT). During their research, they identified six Zones of Opportunity: the Beachway (R-46), the Trail Creek/Waterfront, Elston Grove, Franklin Street, Barker Village-Washington Street Historic District and Washington Park.
MC NEAT member Don Babcock discussed progress made in the six zones, impediments to progress and what could happen in each area.
“This isn't just a one-night deal. This is just a beginning of finding a way to work together,” Babcock said. “The Chamber is going to step up and lead and facilitate this, but not control.”
The Chamber of Commerce and MC NEAT, said Bietry, is not endorsing single developer or a single development plan.
“What we want to do is tell you, we have a great foundation here. We need to make something happen. We're all tired of talking,” Bietry said. “With all the information here ... there's really no excuse for us as a community to not make something happen. The table is set.”
Also discussed was a number of the city's plans, including the R-46/Beachway plan, the Wurster, Bernardi, Emmons plan and the Anderson Camieros study. The vision and progress made in each Zone, said Bietry, has come from one of the city's plans.
The North End has been the focal point of several plans for 80 years, starting with the 1926 City Master Plan.
Bietry said MC NEAT had an “aha” moment when the Washington Park Master Plan was proposed last year.
“We looked at and said, this is Wurster Bernardi. This is a group in 1980 that sat down, experts in their field, and came up with great ideas for development in the Washington Park area,” Bietry said. “Then another group met in 2006 ... they came up with the same ideas. I think that's what we should take a look at.”
Bietry asked everyone present to choose one of the six zones and work with others interested in that zone.
“Tell us what we may have missed. We spent a long time on this, but we know their are other things out their we could have missed,” Bietry said. “Every time we met, we came up with something new.”
Rules for the groups include no hidden agendas and respecting each other's ideas and perspectives.
“We're going to listen carefully and we're going to learn from each other,” Bietry said. “We're not going to be shy about presenting our point of view.”
Within a couple weeks MC NEAT will meet with zone leaders. The community will meet again on April 17 to share progress from the zone meetings.
Contact reporter Amanda Haverstick at ahaverstick@thenewsdispatch.com.
By Amanda Haverstick, The News-Dispatch
Sue Bietry acts as the facilitator of one of six break-out groups discussing development on the North End on Wednesday at the Michigan City Senior Center. Photo/Anthony Lambre
The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce's development workshop for the North End may lead to a fruitful future for the city.
Michigan City Chamber of Commerce President Tim Bietry explained to the 120 people gathered at the Michigan City Senior Center on Wednesday evening that the seeds to the evening's workshop were laid five months ago.
Bietry said he and a number of Chamber members and other city residents wanted to refute an Anvil Chorus letter stating the city had no vision for development. The group also wanted to move beyond talking about the North End and make something happen.
“We decided we were going to form an ad hoc committee and do extensive research ... and print an educational piece for the community,” Bietry said. “Along the way, we became passionate about the issue. We also wanted to issue a call to action to the North End and all of Michigan City.”
The committee, said Bietry, became the Michigan City North End Advocacy Team (MC NEAT). During their research, they identified six Zones of Opportunity: the Beachway (R-46), the Trail Creek/Waterfront, Elston Grove, Franklin Street, Barker Village-Washington Street Historic District and Washington Park.
MC NEAT member Don Babcock discussed progress made in the six zones, impediments to progress and what could happen in each area.
“This isn't just a one-night deal. This is just a beginning of finding a way to work together,” Babcock said. “The Chamber is going to step up and lead and facilitate this, but not control.”
The Chamber of Commerce and MC NEAT, said Bietry, is not endorsing single developer or a single development plan.
“What we want to do is tell you, we have a great foundation here. We need to make something happen. We're all tired of talking,” Bietry said. “With all the information here ... there's really no excuse for us as a community to not make something happen. The table is set.”
Also discussed was a number of the city's plans, including the R-46/Beachway plan, the Wurster, Bernardi, Emmons plan and the Anderson Camieros study. The vision and progress made in each Zone, said Bietry, has come from one of the city's plans.
The North End has been the focal point of several plans for 80 years, starting with the 1926 City Master Plan.
Bietry said MC NEAT had an “aha” moment when the Washington Park Master Plan was proposed last year.
“We looked at and said, this is Wurster Bernardi. This is a group in 1980 that sat down, experts in their field, and came up with great ideas for development in the Washington Park area,” Bietry said. “Then another group met in 2006 ... they came up with the same ideas. I think that's what we should take a look at.”
Bietry asked everyone present to choose one of the six zones and work with others interested in that zone.
“Tell us what we may have missed. We spent a long time on this, but we know their are other things out their we could have missed,” Bietry said. “Every time we met, we came up with something new.”
Rules for the groups include no hidden agendas and respecting each other's ideas and perspectives.
“We're going to listen carefully and we're going to learn from each other,” Bietry said. “We're not going to be shy about presenting our point of view.”
Within a couple weeks MC NEAT will meet with zone leaders. The community will meet again on April 17 to share progress from the zone meetings.
Contact reporter Amanda Haverstick at ahaverstick@thenewsdispatch.com.