Quote:
Originally Posted by the urban politician
^ Whats with all these drive by assessments of yours?
Anyhow, I had no idea Michigan City was booming this much
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lol.....And ya, Michigan City is under a major 10 year revitalization plan to become
the premier Indiana Lakefront destination and has goals to even become a national gem.
For anyone with ties or any interest in Michigan City or Northwest Indiana in general here is a brief rundown of some of the projects going on in Michigan City.
Michigan City is under a major boom right now and has developed a plan called the
"Lake Michigan Gateway Implementation Strategy" which has used Lohan Andersen, Hitchcock Design Group, Perkins + Will, Andrews University and a few other developers and design groups to come up with a complete master-plan for the entire city, the lake front and it's outskirts.
The St. Anthony's Holding Company recently purchased 79 acres off of Highway 94 and this hospital is their initial $200 million investment which will make it the tallest hospital in Northwest Indiana and the Blue Chip tower is already I believe the tallest building outside of Chicago proper in all of Chicagoland or maybe hotel. In the future they plan to build more medical centers, treatment facilities and hotels/restaurants surrounding this main building.
Here is a rendering of the Michigan City Brewery site that Lohan Andersen designed that's finally underway and is starting construction this year. They are converting it into a high-end hotel and condos I believe.
Near the Casino on Michigan Blvd. and right down from the above brewery project the Michigan City Police department is building a new $15 million police Headquarters that's probably 70% completed and looks remarkable compared to what they previously had.
Further east off of the 94 exit down from the new hospital site there is a new "LifeWorks Business Park" under development which has just built a new Hilton Garden Inn and a couple medical offices so far. It's a 40 acre site with 16 pods with plans to build a 100,000 sq. ft. field house which will be amazing for the city.
The Nipsco Power Plant just added a new $250 million scrubber which is close to 200 feet tall.
The master-plan calls for aerial trams to connect the lake to the casino to the Light House Mall that they call the "Diamond Triangle" which allegedly attracts 10 million visitors annually which I find almost impossible to believe.
The South Shore/NICTD is investing hundreds of millions to build new stations, realign the tracks and update their systems.
They are redeveloping the entire north end of the city where downtown is located. It has been designated the "Arts District" and
"Artspace" is renovating the old 8 story Warren Building for $17 million to build lofts to house national artists looking for housing and I believe there will be 70-80 units plus public space for galleries and educational purposes. It looks amazing so far. The building was completely dilapidated for decades as you see in Gary, In.
I know of a plan that fell through a year ago with a Chicago developer who planned to build a 13 story S Shaped Condo building downtown.
Another developer is said to be interested in the former Memorial Hospital site who envisions two 20 story twin mixed use buildings.
Indeed Michigan City is underway for a complete transformation with lofty goals to become a lakefront paradise with national attention.
Here is the 3-24 story Condo rendering that is still used on the marketing signs around the city advertising the revitalization and transformation that is taking place. Plans have been set back years and years as construction was set to begin in early 2008 before the economy collapsed. My sources within the know in the city assure me this project is still very much in tact although I know a feasibility study the city paid $200,000 for urged highly against it. I know the city wants it regardless of the study's findings and a few master developers allegedly still hold much interest. I believe it may never happen but even a scaled back version or even only one of the towers would still be amazing for such a small town.
Another plan is to attract a Division 1 university to the city that has been in the papers a few times.
I think if even even half of Michigan City's vision comes to fruition it will give South Bend a major run for it's money as being the somewhat capital of Northwest Indiana. I always knew Michigan City was a sleeping giant and it seems it's slumbers are over finally. The only problem is manufacturing has left the city in droves and it's NEVER coming back. They have doubled down and went all-in on service and tourism. Hopefully more professional institutions and corporations give Michigan City a look but the population is under educated and lacking skilled labor so Valparaiso continues to attract the high paying manufacturing jobs and educational institutions, financial centers and professionals in the area. Crime in Michigan City is also a major problem which Valpo doesn't have and there are ghettos all over the city's west, south and east sides. Chicago gangs run the city and warrant sweeps weekly net 40-70 arrests. The drug trade is rampant and for every dealer taken down 5 sprout up in their place. The murder rate is somewhere in the 15.0-17.0 range and shootings plague the city. Hopefully with all of the new investment these gangsters are driven from the city.