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MC-NEAT Zone #4
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Visit this site to learn about the urban planning project between the City of Michigan City and the Andrews University Urban
Design group.
Michigan City Mainstreet Association Blends Zone #4 Into Their Organization
Zone #4 leader Tim Haas, Haas & Associates, recommended that the Michigan City Mainstreet Association
enfold the Zone #4 team into their organization. "We are working at accomplishing identical goals," Haas said. "So it just
makes sense to blend the MC-NEAT Team for the downtown area into the Mainstreet Association. Most of the team members are
already Mainstreet members."
Tim Bietry, president of the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce and founder of the MC-NEAT project, said,
"That is exactly what I hoped would happen," in response to Haas' announcement.
Zone #4 projects will be managed through the restructured committees of the Mainstreet Association.
Now an active member of the Indiana Mainstreet Association and a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's
Mainstreet Network, the Michigan City Mainstreet's committees have been changed to reflect the Indiana Mainstreet's requirements.
Those committees are:
1. Design: Enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating
historic buildings, encouraging supportive new construction, developing sensitive design management systems and long-term
planning. The look of downtown, its streets, signs, buildings and store interiors is unique to each Indiana community. Main
Street’s goal is to work with all these elements to create a friendly, attractive place that will draw in visitors and
businesses.
2. Organization: Building consensus and cooperation among the many groups and individuals
involved in the revitalization process. To ensure a self-reliant, broad-based, long-lasting downtown revitalization program,
the entire community must rally around the idea. Cooperation from both the public and the private sector is critical to achieve
visible results. In addition, a separate staff and business solely dedicated to downtown revitalization is key to achieving
long-term, large-scale results.
3. Promotion: Marketing the commercial district’s assets to
customers, potential investors, businesses, local citizens, and visitors. To keep investors, visitors, and businesses coming
downtown, Main Street must reshape the community perspective of downtown as a hub of activity. Successful downtown image campaigns,
as well as promotional activities that build upon the community’s unique heritage and culture send a consistent, compelling
message promoting the downtown area.
4. Economic Restructuring: Strengthening the district’s
existing economic base while finding ways to expand it to meet new opportunities and challenges from outlying development.
Main Street’s ultimate goal is to create downtowns that are economically viable. Researching the regional market and
consumer trends give Main Street organizations a realistic picture of what market mix will work for their downtown. Based
on their research, Main Street organizations can begin stabilizing existing businesses and recruiting new businesses to fill
the gaps.
Upcoming meetings of the Michigan City Mainstreet Association will include Zone #4 issues and progress reports.
For more information, contact Mainstreet at info@mcmainstreet.com or call 219/363-1407.
“A
dynamic cultural and civic center with a thriving retail corridor, surrounded by friendly, historic neighborhoods with easy
access to beautiful Lake Michigan, Trail Creek and Washington Park” -- this is the North End Vision proposed by the
Michigan City Chamber of Commerce’s new team.
The Michigan
City North End Advocacy Team consists of Al Whitlow, Tim Bietry, Don Babcock, Sue Bietry, Mike Burke, Rick Dekker, Dennis
Hirsch, Fred Miller, Roger Potratz, and Tom Swirski.
Six Zones
have been formed, and our historic downtown is Zone #4. Many Mainstreet Association members are on the Zone #4 team.
MC-NEAT says, “North End redevelopment is critical now because well-planned, eco and culturally
sensitive development could be the key driver of economic vitality for the entire community. The benefits include:
· An improved quality of life for
our residents in the way of new jobs, new and improved housing, and new and higher quality attractions.
· A substantial new tax base that
will positively impact all taxpayers.
· Increased tourism revenues that
will positively impact all taxpayers.
· An improved Michigan City development
climate.
Zone #4’s vision/plan includes:
4 Develop a “Mainstreet”
theme
4 Create an “arts district”
4 Entertainment, specialized retail,
and professional establishments
4 Retail along Franklin Street with
residential units above
4 Renovate existing structures and
return “updated” storefronts to their original appearance
4 Fill in gaps—vacant lots utilized
for street activities during the day
4 Multi-family residential infill
in some vacant spots
4 Pocket parks where land is available.
The Chamber of Commerce will have more details on Zone 4 as well as the other five zones on their website
(www.michigancitychamber.org) the 2nd
week of May. Be sure to visit that site frequently to view updates. If you are interested in participating in Zone #4, contact
Roger Potratz at roger@dh2w.com.
| Students will help develop North End plans |
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By Jason Miller, The News-Dispatch
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Michigan City officials hope architecture students from Andrews University can expand upon a Chamber of Commerce
initiative aimed at finding out how best to revitalize the city's North End.
“The stuff of theirs we've seen,
they do an excellent job,” Mayor Chuck Oberlie said Thursday. “We're trying to give the citizens a comfort zone
by letting them work with these young people with fresh ideas.”
The city signed on with the Berrien Springs, Mich., university's architecture and
planning school to work with the public on a six-area project started by Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Students
will work with teams representing the six areas to be revitalized in the Michigan City North End Advocacy Team, known as MCNEAT.
MCNEAT
has met several times with members of all six teams and through public input - each team is comprised of community members
- has come up with several ideas to redevelop areas along Lake Michigan, Franklin Street, U.S. 12, Elston Grove and other
North End neighborhoods.
According to Oberlie, the students will begin work in September, studying the MCNEAT proposals
and speaking with members of the community.
They'll hold several charettes - small, informational public meetings - in which
they'll give “tangible plans, and regulatory mechanisms” recommended for North End redevelopment.
Oberlie
said some 30 people from Andrews will participate. The city is looking for residents to house the students on the occasions
they're in Michigan City to present information.
“Their architecture school is world-famous. For their student
projects, they like to go into an area and present an educational examination,” Oberlie said. “The final step
in this is to bring in an academic measure to apply all the concepts and turn them into documents.”
The city
has commissioned several studied in the past few decades dealing with North End redevelopment, and Oberlie said the students
will include those studies in their information gathering.
He said students also will look at the architectural standards
for the city and its entry corridors.
Oberlie said the project is likely to cost $17,000, and will include - in the
final set of documents - drawings, including illustrated proposals for corridor improvements, “drawings and images of
building types appropriate to achieving desired densities and street character and drawings and diagrams of architectural
guidelines for the study area.”
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Notes from February 21st Meeting
Zone 4 – Franklin Street
Vision/Plan:
- Develop a “Mainstreet” theme
- Those mentioned included marine, boating, beach, and historic
- Creation of an “Arts District”
- Entertainment, specialized retail, and professional establishments
- Retail along Franklin Street
with residential units above
- Renovate existing structures and return “updated” storefronts
to their original appearance
- Fill in gaps – vacant lots utilized for street activities during the
day
- Multi-family residential infill in some vacant spots
- Pocket parks where land is available
Additional
Impediments To Progress: (not listed in handouts)
- Serious lack of transportation
- Perceived lack of secure parking
- Everything closes at 5 p.m.
- Perception that “if you improve your property, you get taxed. If you let your property rot, your taxes go down.”
- Lack of “friendly banks” that provide low-interest loans to businesses for the purposes of updating, restoring,
renovation, etc.
- Garbage in street - “pick it up and get rid of it when you see it”
– take responsibility
- Downtown looks deserted and worn out
- Landscaping not maintained properly
- Sidewalks wider than in years past – restricts ability to provide 2-way traffic
- Soup kitchens and homeless shelters draw people who sleep on benches outside businesses; this seriously impacts number
of people who will enter said businesses
- Lack of enough arts/cultural businesses to draw tourists downtown
- Absentee owners
- Funding for marketing of existing businesses and tourism opportunities.
- (City of MC funded Mainstreet Association for years;
when Mayor Brillson took office, she stopped funding Mainstreet. Hence, the Association is unable to effect any changes downtown
that require funding – and has no means other than press releases and websites to promote any tourism events.
- The City of Michigan City hired JK Enterprises
(strategic marketing & community relations consultant) in 2001. During the past six years, there has been no funding available
for advertising, promotions, etc. Everything that has been accomplished has been done through the generosity of local businesses
and individuals who have donated services, time, and product to the efforts to bring positive awareness to the City of Michigan City.
- Enforcement of ordinances would help resolve some of the downtown issues
Successes not mentioned in handout:
- New Michigan City map and brochure showing locations
of restaurants and other businesses in “Golden Triangle.” These are available at City Hall and CVB.
- 605 Franklin – retail downstairs and residential
living upstairs
- REMAX took over Neil Singleton’s building and is doing well.
- Haas & Associates’ building – global surveying downstairs
Suggestions:
Notes from end of meeting:
Spokespeople:
- Doug Waters
- John Pavy
- Rick Murphy
- Bob Lake
- Mike Kelly and Chris Schwank
- Larry Silvestri and Chuck Shirren
(Spelling is probably wrong on many
of these!)
· Armory could be turned into Park & Rec office.
· Yacht Club could be our solution to the need for a lakefront restaurant.
· Windows on DNR building MUST be replaced before tourist season.
· Dodge-Em building must be replaced – put aside the sentimentalism and put in a decent
eating/display building.
· We have too much sand. We are now dredging every two years rather than every 6 years as we did
in the early 1990’s.
· Add facilities to the Park – create an income stream.
· Need more lakefront development and boat slips
· Local transportation is a major problem for tourists.
· Need to better utilize/promote our historic structures for tourism.
· Need more arts and culture ventures downtown and in North End.
· Train Station issues
· Neighborhood Associations need to step up to help bring about change.
· Signage and a THEME are crucial.
· Absentee owners seen as significant problem source.
· Need residential/retail combos.
· Pedestrian traffic (from downtown to beach, etc.) is problematic and unclear.
· Need more vegetation and trees – green it up!
· Need significantly more marketing, advertising and partnerships. Funding?
· Washington Park
and Zoo are a major economic industry for Michigan City. We
need to begin addressing them as such.
MINUTES – MAR. 13, 2007
ZONE
FOUR MEETING
6:00
P.M. – CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Present:
Sharon Carnes, Don Przybylinski, Phyllis Komasinski, Donna Eaton Howard, Mike Howard, Laurie Farrell, Jan Kostielney,
Carol Kemp, Bob Lake, Jerry Peters, Sophie Koss, Johnny
Stimley, John Schaaf, Meggan Horn, Tim Haas
Also:
Tim Bietry, Don Babcock, Art Kemp, Tom Swirski, and Roger Potratz from MC NEAT
I.
Mr. Lake welcomed all and asked that each member introduce him/herself to the group and briefly state why he/she
volunteered for this project. He then mentioned the source documents and referenced
the Zone 4 information in the MC NEAT handouts from the Senior
Center meeting as well as the additional information produced on
the flip charts at the Senior Center.
II.
The following were discussion ideas/points:
A. There was general consensus that a walk-around of Zone 4 would be helpful to all.
B. It would be helpful to accurately identify who property owners are
for each building, etc.
C. An immediate thing that could be done is garbage pick up in the zone.
D. It would be helpful to have a map of the zone with color-coding to
indicate whether the property is for sale/rent, its status (blighted or dilapidated vs. attractive/useful).
E. It would be helpful to get information from the downtown restaurant/attraction
guide on a website.
F. Mr. Lake stated that it would be good to elect block captains to monitor
garbage pick-up and upkeep issues. Mr. Potratz and Ms. Kostielney stated
that Mainstreet Organization already had a system with Block Captains in place.
G. We need more people to join this group – particularly current
property owners.
H. South
Shore issues were discussed.
I. There was discussion about moving the Lakefront Art Festival to Franklin Street.
J. There is a lack of adequate signage denoting you are entering/leaving
the “mainstreet” area.
K. There are efforts to create a permanent structure (year around) for
Farmer’s Market in the zone.
L. There is no sufficient pedestrian-friendly route to the harbor area
from Franklin Street.
M. There are some notable projects that have been completed along this
corridor.
N. Monies are needed for low interest loans for current owners who wish
to improve their properties and/or improve the facades.
O. The problem of absentee owners (Warren
Building, South Shore Station and Canterbury) needs
to be addressed.
P. Codes and ordinances currently exist that would allow enforcement for
properties that exemplify the term “demolition by neglect” but they are not aggressively or consistently
enforced.
Q. A “reverse tax” that would penalize owners who fail to
keep properties attractive was proposed.
R. A trolley system linking attractions to other attractions in other
zones (as well at the South Shore and hotels/motels to the south) is desperately needed.
S. There may be an opportunity to take advantage of an Andrews University student-driven charrette
on urban design this summer/fall.
T. We need to better advertise this zone and promote it positively to
the community and visitors.
III.
Action items:
A. The Chamber of Commerce will share information they have on building
ownership with this committee.
B. Mr. Potratz and Mr. Haas will produce a picture/diagram of properties
that can be color-coded per the committees wishes.
C. Mr. Potratz and Ms. Kostielney will share information from this meeting
with Mainstreet Association and will have their Block Captains convey information on the walk-around scheduled for Saturday
Mar. 24. We will try to have all buildings open.
VI.
Our next meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 24, 2007 (rain date of Mar. 31, 2007). We will meet at the Public Library for a walk around of Zone 4. The meeting will end at The Ritz Club for
lunch and de-briefing.
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