By Jim Stinson, Post-Tribune staff writer
VALPARAISO — It’s a plan, a concept — nothing for the new downtown commuter rail station is set in concrete. Yet.
That’s what some members of the Valparaiso City Council said before voting for a conceptual draft for the development south of West Lincolnway and Campbell Street.
The plan, approved 7-to-0, would designate 70 acres between West Lincolnway and the Norfolk Southern rail line as “Village Station.”
The plan, approved last month by the Plan Commission and the Redevelopment Commission, also calls for a commuter station, townhouses, small areas of mixed use, greenspace and room for the city’s sewer treatment to expand.
It also rejects using an old CN station near the city’s northside.
Consultant J. Christopher Lannert said the city would not find 100 spaces at that location. Much more space is available at property owned by the city and private owners where a downtown Amtrak stop used to be, the old Franklin House.
Before the meeting, the city sought out property owners who might be affected as Northwest Indiana leaders lobby for an expansion of the South Shore Rail Line to Valparaiso and Lowell.
A major concern for some was the city’s plan to slightly move Campbell Street’s intersection with Lincolnway, so the city could create a new link between north and south areas of the city.
Campbell Street will link with its smaller counterpart along U.S. 30. As a result, Napoleon Street will end at Monroe Street.
The plan will probably mean Jason Evans’ property, the Harvey building on Lincolnway, will be condemned because of new right-of-way, but the Crown Point businessman spoke in favor of the plan.
City leaders said Valparaiso must begin commuter-rail planning now, even before federal and state officials begin plans to expand the rail service of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.
City Councilman Jan Dick said the planning will work as a catalyst to help federal, state and NICTD officials approve extending service through rented rail lines to Merrillville and Valparaiso.