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Business is booming as developers invest more than $200 million in East Chicago
I am proud to report we have four major projects ongoing in the city today — with more on the way. It wasn’t always a sure thing. When COVID-19 came knocking on our door, developers were understandably LOOKING FOR concerned about what it would mean EMPLOYMENT? for more than $200 million in new investment in housing, commerce Have you been and industry. While the projects may Mayor Anthony Copeland reviews plans for furloughed, layed be a few months behind, they are Manhattan Mechanical Services, creating 75-100 new jobs over the next two years. [Steve Segura photo] off or unemployed moving forward. because of the COVID-19 crisis? Developers see East Chicago for what WHAT NEW NEIGHBORS ADD it is — a great place to do business. TO YOUR COMMUNITY We’d like to help! WHAT NEW BUSINESS MEANS When these projects are complete, The City of East TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE the city will welcome individuals who Chicago has invited will add value to our city. These are Commercial start-ups — whether local employers families who see what we have to they are in North Harbor or West to share job offer and want to make their homes Calumet – add measurably to opportunities – in the best community in Northwest our collective quality of life. New from apprentice Indiana. Their children will go to our business help keep our property programs to schools, visit our community centers taxes lower than they would have landscaping and and participate in local sports. And, been if they weren’t here. In addition banking – on our that’s just for starters. to their contributions to the East website. Apply Chicago tax base, these businesses When our city prospers, we all online while also pay monthly sewer and water benefit. practicing safe, bills — just like you — and will help social distancing. pay for improvements to the systems INFO: eastchicago. that keep our drinking water safe and com/390/ further protect neighborhoods from Employment- flooding. When they buy gasoline Opportunities for their vehicles, they add to the tax ANTHONY COPELAND dollars we receive to pave roads. Mayor City of East Chicago
EASTCHICAGO.COM JULY 2020 EAST CHICAGO STRONGER TOGETHER
NORTH HARBOR NEIGHBORHOOD
[Jonathan Madera photos | rendering provided] [ ABOUT HARBOR SQUARE ] The 28-unit apartment building features one- and two-bedroom units with modern, accessible layouts and a variety of common spaces, including a community ‘hub’ space that will host activities and workshops that benefit residents and community members. “This is going to be a great asset to East Chicago,” Mayor Anthony Copeland said. CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON HARBOR PROJECT
When Harbor Square is services geared to enhancing possible without a host of completed next year, the city health, economic security, project partners. will have 28, one- and two- educational achievement “I want to thank Fifth bedroom apartments that and personal well-being. At Third Bank, Peoples Bank, provide low-income individuals street level, 2301 Broadway the East Chicago Housing and small families housing and will feature the city’s Authority, HealthLinc and the a hub of services to help break second HealthLinc clinic – a Federal Home Loan Bank of the cycle of poverty. 5,000-square-foot, full-service Indianapolis,” Copeland said. In addition to a solar panel health center open to residents “Harbor Square will offer all of array to offset utility costs, and neighbors alike. the amenities a family could Harbor Square will offer regular Mayor Anthony Copeland said want or need within walking programming and supportive none of this would have been distance of home.”
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[rendering provided]
PILLARS TO REBUILDING CALUMET
HEALTHY HOME ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY EMPOWERMENT
[ ABOUT PROJECT PHOENIX ] Before East Chicago leaders envisioned what would come next for Calumet, they bought up properties to give them flexibility in the redevelopment they hoped would follow. They worked with the EPA to guarantee soils contaminated by long-gone heavy industry would be removed, leaving behind land for projects without baggage. They dreamed big and came up with a name that suited the scope and magnitude. They called it Project Phoenix. PROJECT PHOENIX WILL TRANSFORM CALUMET
A decade after planning long-term jobs to attract LCEA President and CEO Karen began, the city is unveiling the new homeowners and spur Lauerman said Phoenix is a Phoenix Project — a holistic commercial development. project with the potential to remediation and rebuild that The Lake County Economic holistically and dynamically will transform the industrial Alliance is working with East change the Calumet landscape. neighborhoods in Calumet Chicago to make it all happen. “Our job is to look at that took flight a century ago. As a private, nonpartisan 501c3, opportunities, take East Chicago and its partners LCEA identifies developable challenging situations and are looking to anchor the land to attract businesses, jobs make them positive,” she said. area with a state-of-the-art and investment. Their goal: “We want Calumet to become distribution hub that will bring bring projects to fruition for a benefit for all who live and with it hundreds of stable, the good of all. work there.”
EASTCHICAGO.COM JULY 2020 | PAGE 3 EAST CHICAGO STRONGER TOGETHER
MICHIGAN AVENUE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT
[Steve Segura photo | renderings provided] [ ABOUT MANHATTAN MECHANICAL SERVICES ] Manhattan Mechanical Services is a heavy industrial mechanical contractor providing services to oil refineries, chemical plants, steel mills, paper mills and other heavy industrial operations. The new facility at 3450 Michigan Avenue (shown above) will serve as its corporate office and feature a fabrication shop and craft training center. NEW CONTRACTOR INVESTS IN EAST CHICAGO
With an eye on opening Oct. 1, Mayor Anthony Copeland Manhattan, which has grown Manhattan Mechanical Services said the city has a growing significantly in recent years, had begun construction of a reputation for being a great wanted to relocate to better 20,000- square-foot building city to do business. serve the Midwest market. on nearly three acres at 3450 “East Chicago has shown itself “East Chicago and the Michigan Ave. to be a community companies State of Indiana provide This $2.5 million project will can rely on to help provide a mean up to 83 new, high- return on their investment and a business environment wage jobs with the promise future prosperity,” Copeland where we and our clients of additional hiring as the said. “We appreciate the can continue to prosper,” company expands its reach in commitment Manhattan has Manhattan President Northwest Indiana. made to our city.” Mike Uremovich said.
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NORTH HARBOR NEIGHBORHOOD
[renderings provided] [ ABOUT LAKESHORE MANOR ] The city’s new senior housing will be blocks from the Lake Michigan shore amid the new walkable city development known as North Harbor. Built to green standards, the development will include secure, brightly lit entrances, color-coded elevators and floors, ADA units as well as efficient heating and cooling. $40 MILLION SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
A sparkling, new development to apartments that include amenities Developer Ezra Burdix, owner of replace the aging John B. Nico- most requested by seniors. DTM Real Estate Services of In- sia Senior Housing high rises is “There have been so many chang- dianapolis, said Lakeshore Manor scheduled to begin this year and es in senior housing over the last will be welcoming to all who live open to new residents by the first 50 years,” said Tia Cauley execu- and visit there. quarter of 2022. tive director of the East Chicago “We have paid attention to every In place of the two, nine-story Housing Authority. “The city detail, including air quality and buildings that have dominated the and housing authority have been the overall environment,” Burdix Indiana Harbor landscape since working for more than two years said. “At completion, Lakeshore 1972 will be Lakeshore Manor to create the best development Manor will be one of the premier – two, three-story buildings possible for East Chicago senior senior housing developments in containing 206 bright and airy citizens.” North America.”
EASTCHICAGO.COM JULY 2020 | PAGE 5 CITY OF EAST CHICAGO EAST CHICAGO 4525 INDIANAPOLIS BOULEVARD COVID-19 CASES EAST CHICAGO, IN 46312 The number of positive Covid-19 cases continue to climb in East Chicago. As of June 25 the health department reported 14 deaths and 468 positive RESIDENT cases – more than quadruple the cases EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA 46312 reported the entire month of April.
EAST CHICAGO PARKS & RECREATION CURBSIDE Get the latest COVID-19 updates at eastchicago.com. Outside your home – wear a mask, maintain 6 feet distance from others and MARKET wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. 1 – 3:30 PM EVERY THURSDAY CANCELLATIONS & CLOSURES GET YOUR WEEKLY SHARE All special events have been OF LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE canceled or postponed until FROM OUR GREENHOUSE! further notice. Jeorse Park Beach, the Splash Pad, H2Oh water sports rentals and all city pools remain closed amid the Covid-19 crisis. PARK OFFICE PARKING LOT 1615 E. 142ND CENSUS 2020 STREET Stand up and be counted, East Chicago! Take the 2020 Census by responding online at 2020census.gov or by phone at (844) 330-2020. Residents are encouraged to reply promptly. US Census EC ROCKS personnel will begin visiting households in August.