MICHIGAN CITY, IN - Development Thread

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Siriusly

What is the arbitrary reason that gives one greater distinction over the other? Michigan City has always been marketed as "Chicagoland" plain and simple on both ends, not just M.C.. You can watch a Blue Chip commercial on Chicago networks and hear something to the effect of "the best gaming "Chicagoland has to offer."

It is only in Chicagoland if you're counting CSA. That means it's kind of in there, but when most people talk about the metro area, they're talking about the MSA. If you're talking about the MSA, it's not in the Chicago area.

These are defined by the Office of Management and Budget. We'd both be correct, but it depends on how most people use it and most people when talking about metro area talk about MSA:
http://www.census.gov/population/metro/

Michigan City has repeatedly denied being recognized as part of "Michiana" which is

Maybe this is true now but I go back A Lot more years than you here and I'm telling you I have seen many conversations on what would be deemed irrelevant "burbs" many times and it's not all negative. I have seen Fry's in Naperville talked about when the conversation turned to best places to buy electronics.

That's great, but you're also talking about let's say 3 years ago. In this case, it doesn't matter what people were talking about let's say 3 years ago. People don't talk about this stuff now, which should mean your point is basically moot at this point in time. It's like you're holding onto behavior from a handful of years ago when people don't even do those things anymore.

I could blindfold you in Michigan City and you would think you were in Englewood, Roseland, Parkway Gardens or South Shore...

Except for the fact that it's 45 miiles away from Chicago and nobody who knows anything about Chicago would actually think they are inside Chicago. The skyline is less than 10 miles from Oak Park.

[The Pimp]

Originally Posted by Siriusly

Millions of people and the media everyday say the exact same thing about Chicago so no offense taken.


Michigan city is a 45 minute drive to Chicago and has a direct train. 30 minutes by water and you can see the skyline from Washington Park and Mt. Baldy. If you people can't see any relevance to a booming Northwest Indiana city with this proximity to Chicago then I can't explain it to you. You are all just blinded by your elitist mindsets.

I implore any of you to come to Michigan City on a Saturday in the summer. About 70% of the licence plates state "Land of Lincoln" and Long Beach and Pottawatomie Park is filled to the gills with Chicagoans. I'd say they are greater than 60% of the home owners in the affluent suburbs of Michigan City.

So Michigan City is decent enough for the cheap taxes on 2nd and 3rd homes or to enjoy the lake and its many events or take in the shopping and casino night life but not important enough to discuss on a "boom" thread while experiencing a "boom."

I've seen Naperville talks, Schaumburg, Rockford, Aurora etc..etc....And always Evanston and Oak Park.

I guess you guys don't realize every time you bragg about the 9 million metro figure making you the third largest in the nation the "dump" Michigan City is included in that.

I've been to Michigan City many many many times. It's not nice. The housing is really sub par. Frankly, the whole town has a very low brow look about it. Sorry. BTW, as much as you want Michigan City to be affiliated with "Chicagoland" it will never happen. Be happy with who you are. Quite frankly, you never hear people from South Bend saying that they're from "Chicagoland". In addition, Naperville, Oak Park and Evanston are all commuting towns within the State of Illinois. You are as much part of chicagoland as Ft Wayne and South Bend. Aren't you closer to Michigan anyways?

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by rlw777

Michigan City doesn't need studies and "iron clad" master plans (whatever that means) to turn around and become the destination city it would like to be. It only needs to do one thing. Get rid of the power plant. If I wanted to spend time in a town with a Casino and a public beach near heavy industry I would save some time and go to Hammond Indiana or East Chicago.

Or Des Plaines

[sukwoo]

Originally Posted by The Pimp

I've been to Michigan City many many many times. It's not nice. The housing is really sub par. Frankly, the whole town has a very low brow look about it. Sorry. BTW, as much as you want Michigan City to be affiliated with "Chicagoland" it will never happen. Be happy with who you are. Quite frankly, you never hear people from South Bend saying that they're from "Chicagoland". In addition, Naperville, Oak Park and Evanston are all commuting towns within the State of Illinois. You are as much part of chicagoland as Ft Wayne and South Bend. Aren't you closer to Michigan anyways?

I don't see a problem with Michigan City associating with Chicago. Being an upscale town is not a requirement. The whole region would benefit from tighter links/collaboration and improved economic activity on the south lakefront.

[Kngkyle]

I like to see the region grow and succeed as much as anyone, but when you've trashed Chicago's development and then boast so much about various Michigan City projects.... it's not really a surprise when people throw mud your way.

Originally Posted by Siriusly

The City is actively looking for a developer to build a 4 star hotel with "lake views" and convention space in the downtown area.

If the area was booming as much as you make it out to be, shouldn't this be the other way around?