MIchigan City Development Thread! |
MIchigan City Development Thread! |
Mar 3 2015, 01:29 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Getting Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 42 Joined: 22-January 13 Member No.: 1,242 |
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. |
Jan 23 2017, 03:25 PM
Post
#2
|
|
Really Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 1,177 Joined: 19-November 09 Member No.: 969 |
Michigan City to copy Valparaiso's downtown plaza
Stan Maddux Times Correspondent MICHIGAN CITY — Michigan City is moving forward with plans for a plaza to enhance the revitalization of its downtown. Two of the few buildings that remain empty will be torn down to create space for its construction, which probably won't be finished until next year, Mayor Ron Meer said. "If things stay on schedule, there could be some demolition work yet this winter," Meer said. Hitchcock Design Group of Chicago has already presented preliminary plans for the plaza at Seventh and Franklin streets near the former Warren Building converted last year into living space for more than 40 artists. The idea is to generate traffic by having live music and other events at the plaza on more than 50,000 square feet of open space. Plans call for amenities like an elevated stage and a portable ice skating rink to be replaced with outdoor tables and chairs from spring to fall. A building for concessions and restrooms, along with a fountain, fire pits and decorative lights are included in the plans. Even before the plaza is completed, Meer said it's possible the space could start being used this year to help stage events like the Taste of Michigan City and boat parade as part of the annual Great Lakes Grand Prix powerboat races on Lake Michigan. Meer said a plaza is among the many economic development strategies being followed to make Michigan City a higher quality place to be. "Often people will say, 'There's lots of things to do in Michigan City. What about jobs?'" said Meer. "When you're increasing the quality of life and investing in your community, that's how you get companies and businesses and corporations wanting to invest in your city," he said. The planned plaza seems to have strong support among downtown business owners, who feel the traffic it would bring is much better than having two vacant buildings that could be too far gone to ever rehabilitate. "They've sat there empty for decades," said Jesse Cundiff, owner of Hoity Toity, a home decor store at Eighth and Franklin streets. Cundiff, who once had interest in buying the structures until he went inside, said they're beyond repair unless a purchaser with the financial resources necessary for such an undertaking comes along, and that could take years. |
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 27th September 2024 - 05:06 PM |
Skin Designed By: neo at www.neonetweb.com