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Mayor: Plans 'Exciting' For North End
Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - A design for the city's North End is coming together, and Mayor Chuck Oberlie hopes to lay down a template for development soon in light of two groundbreaking studies recently completed.
"It's exciting," Oberlie said of a study presented to the city's Redevelopment Commission last week outlining a development plan for the Trail Creek corridor. "Now, we can begin laying out some kind of plan, a timeline to move forward."
Chicago design firm Lohan-Anderson last week presented to the city a development plan for the section of Michigan Boulevard and Trail Creek selected by the city as its ideal spot for North End redevelopment.
The plan includes development of creek-side residential and retail space, as well as an extension of residential and retail space from Michigan Boulevard up Sixth Street to Pine Street.
City officials commissioned the plan as a catalyst with which to attract potential "master" developers for the area. Along with a recently completed comprehensive study of the city's entire North End by Andrews University, Oberlie hopes to use the plan to lay out one for developers to follow.
"We want to select one developer to oversee what we want on the North End," Oberlie said. "The master developer could be a developer with the wherewithal to build it all, or it may seek out other developers.
"This is to maintain the integrity of the project."
The design also shows the creation of an island in Trail Creek that would serve as a nature preserve, and suggested a park space across from the Blue Chip Casino boat that could serve as a gathering place for residents to watch movies on a large screen stationed on the creek-side wall of the boat.
More marina space is included, as is a raised tram system that would take people from the creek area to Washington Park beach via elevated gondolas.
"We faced some real challenges," said Joel Stauber, Lohan-Anderson's director of planning. "The original scope was to create a vision plan to help attract a master developer.
"They need someone to oversee the whole area and work clearly with the redevelopment commission."
Stauber said the city could've simply solicited requests for proposals from developers, but that avenue would take much of the oversight out of the hands of the city.
"It's important for the Redevelopment Commission to have its own input into any plan," he said.
The final draft of the Andrews University study - which covers an area much larger than the 50 acres in the Anderson plan - is due in December. Oberlie said the two studies will be looked at and a single template designed.
Contact Jason Miller at jmiller@thenewsdispatch.com.
Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - A design for the city's North End is coming together, and Mayor Chuck Oberlie hopes to lay down a template for development soon in light of two groundbreaking studies recently completed.
"It's exciting," Oberlie said of a study presented to the city's Redevelopment Commission last week outlining a development plan for the Trail Creek corridor. "Now, we can begin laying out some kind of plan, a timeline to move forward."
Chicago design firm Lohan-Anderson last week presented to the city a development plan for the section of Michigan Boulevard and Trail Creek selected by the city as its ideal spot for North End redevelopment.
The plan includes development of creek-side residential and retail space, as well as an extension of residential and retail space from Michigan Boulevard up Sixth Street to Pine Street.
City officials commissioned the plan as a catalyst with which to attract potential "master" developers for the area. Along with a recently completed comprehensive study of the city's entire North End by Andrews University, Oberlie hopes to use the plan to lay out one for developers to follow.
"We want to select one developer to oversee what we want on the North End," Oberlie said. "The master developer could be a developer with the wherewithal to build it all, or it may seek out other developers.
"This is to maintain the integrity of the project."
The design also shows the creation of an island in Trail Creek that would serve as a nature preserve, and suggested a park space across from the Blue Chip Casino boat that could serve as a gathering place for residents to watch movies on a large screen stationed on the creek-side wall of the boat.
More marina space is included, as is a raised tram system that would take people from the creek area to Washington Park beach via elevated gondolas.
"We faced some real challenges," said Joel Stauber, Lohan-Anderson's director of planning. "The original scope was to create a vision plan to help attract a master developer.
"They need someone to oversee the whole area and work clearly with the redevelopment commission."
Stauber said the city could've simply solicited requests for proposals from developers, but that avenue would take much of the oversight out of the hands of the city.
"It's important for the Redevelopment Commission to have its own input into any plan," he said.
The final draft of the Andrews University study - which covers an area much larger than the 50 acres in the Anderson plan - is due in December. Oberlie said the two studies will be looked at and a single template designed.
Contact Jason Miller at jmiller@thenewsdispatch.com.