Michigan City officials touted a boom in downtown development projects elevating the lakefront city's skyline.
Economic Development Corp. Michigan City Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse and Michigan City Director of Redevelopment Skyler York updated business owners at a Michigan City Chamber of Commerce meeting last week on the progress and momentum with several multimillion-dollar investments underway downtown. Construction is moving along on the 12-story Franklin at 11th Street mixed-used development.
“Having the Double Track improvements across the whole region, and the 11th Street multiple-level development adjacent to the train station, has created a lot of attention. We are able to leverage new dollars for incentives,” Hulse said. “This is a signal to developers, businesses and investors across Chicagoland, Indiana and Southwest Michigan that we can do large projects and want to do business.”
The new apartment building and parking garage are located next to the new South Shore Line Train Station that's being built as part of the Double Track project that's shortening commute times into Chicago.
“When we first looked at the train station it was just a garage — worth millions of dollars — but then we pushed it to be a joint transit-oriented development that is the only one in the state,” York said. “Where we were always looking out at what other places were doing, now they are looking at us and asking: ‘How are you doing this?’ It’s an interesting shift that they are asking us questions.”
The Double Track and Franklin at 11th Street project have sparked more interest in downtown investment and have broadened the idea of downtown to stretch all the way south to Ames Field, York said.
“The downtown plaza at 7th and Franklin Street allows for additional activities and more business space as the area has been electrified," York said. "It’s completely wired for more ways to utilize the space, including the upcoming movies at the plaza and block party around the boat races. The Kidpreneur program was really the first to use this space.”
Michigan City also is designating the downtown a designation alcohol refreshment area from the beach to 11st Street. People can buy drinks like beer, wine or cocktails at bars and restaurants and walk around the sidewalks downtown with it. The idea is to spark more life and pedestrian activity, particularly during events.
“Downtown is the face of every community. When I arrived 12 years ago, the city and leaders understood the importance of redeveloping its downtown to drive progress throughout the city,” Hulse said.
Major projects are underway, including the lakefront SoLa development with a rooftop pool, the Singing Sands Suites plan to develop 300 apartments and the 5th and Pine development that would bring 1,000 apartments and a grocery store.
“’Singing Sands’ is an amazing story to tell as it is part of the EPA Brownfields Assessment program. We are putting the property back to use after working on the process for more than 10 years," York said. "Modular has come a very long way and can be built efficiently and put up in record time.”
New housing also is planned throughout the city, including at Tyron Meadows development that's working its way through the approval process.
“Tryon Meadows is a blend of home styles that is a trend in development: with townhomes, apartments and single-family homes in one space. There will be new infrastructure with sidewalks, roads and green spaces,” York said.
Michigan City hopes to develop more housing at the site of the State Prison, which is expected to be torn down after a new penitentiary consolidating existing prisons opens in nearby Westville. It's expected to drive more development on the west side of town, where the prison was considered a drag on new housing since people did not want to live nearby because of safety concerns.
“The State Prison reimagination study has a lot going on behind the scenes. There are ideas for a small retail village, recreation lodge and single and multi-family units. In the next year, we will look at input and proposals as the analysis continues on what’s next for the space,” Hulse said.
Each major project helps spark more interest in a new project, Hulse said.
“Keeping momentum is always the question. We want resident to see what is getting done in downtown with the new two-way street, cleanliness, murals and small businesses investing in the area,” Hulse said. "It’s an exciting period for Michigan City. We encourage all of you to be a part of it, be engaged and get involved. It takes everybody to make these things happen.”
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