The Marquette Plan Gary West Lakefront Updated Vision As identified in the first phase of the Marquette Plan, the original focus for the Gary West Lakefront was to reclaim industrial land in the sub area, and replace it with a mixed use development district, an expanded footprint for the Gary- Inter- national Airport, and new open space, public access, and recreational opportunities along the shoreline. Since 2005, the city’s redevelopment focus has shifted away from mixed use development in the sub area, and more towards development of the district as a hub for logistics, warehousing and distribution, multi-modal ship- ping, and renewable energy production. The revised sub area vision also prioritizes establishing special district overlays that specify sustainable development guidelines for different land use types in the area, and devising strategies for open space, public access, and recreational development that are synergistic with Gary West’s existing Kirk Yard - Gary (NIRPC) and targeted land uses.

Updated Strategies Underutilized land has been reclaimed for the purposes of expanding the district’s heavy infrastructure:

COMPLETED 1. Kirk Yard Expansion (2011) T B After its purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad, Canadian National ex- panded the former railroad’s West Gary hub to serve as its main Midwestern classification yard, through an investment of $141 million, bringing over 100 jobs to the district. 2. Gary-Chicago International Airport Conservation Action Plan (2011) T E A joint effort between the RDA, Cardno JF New, and the Donnelley Foundation, the 2012 report created recommendations for balancing future airport and industrial development in the sub area with land conservation and sustainability Protected Wetland in the Airport Area - Gary (NIRPC) best practices, and stands as a guiding document for ongoing redevelopment in the area. 100 Gary West Lakefront In Transition 1 Kirk Yard Industrial Marina 2 Gary-Chicago International Airport Conservation Action Plan 9 WT Open Space Commercial 3 Marquette Greenway Commercial and Conservation Canadian National Rail Relocation & Balance 4 Airport Runway Extension Residential Mixed Use 5 Gary Chicago International Airport Historic Site 6 Airport Economic Development

CLINE AV CLINE National Registar 6 Historic District Opportunities Clark Road Improvements 7 4 2 (consensus pending) ¤£12 6 7 8 Clark Road/I-90 potential interchange 912 10 9 Marina Access Road Improvements 10 1 10 Dune & Swale Conservation Land 6 5 MG Marquette Greenway WT Lake Michigan Water Trail (no stop)

G alume CLARK RD CLARK r RD CLARK 3 and C t Rive 6 MG r ¥¥90 8 10 MG 3

10 W 4TH AV

¤£20 W 5TH AV BURR ST BURR ONGOING ST BURR

3. Marquette Greenway (2009–) P1 A T C The Gary West sub area holds the ninth and tenth legs of the Marquette Greenway, which in total, stretch from Cline Avenue, on the Hammond/Gary border, to Bridge Street, connecting with the Gary Green Link. The trail segments run alongside the Grand and the Toll Road, north of US 20. Currently, no construction has occurred on these segments, but a funding request for the project has been submitted through the National Park Service. 101 The Marquette Plan

Gary Chicago International Airport Runway Expansion - Gary (RDA) Disinvested Areas Adjacent to the Airport - Gary (NIRPC)

4. Gary Airport Runway Expansion (2011–) T B Enabled by the relocation of the Canadian National railroad. Completion of the project has been continued into 2015 due to land remedia- tion issues. Once completed, the Gary Chicago International Airport will be able to accommodate larger jets that are capable flying longer of distances, enhancing and expanding the overall capacity of the airport.

NEW/PROPOSED 5. Gary Airport Area Master Development Vision (2014–) T B In partnership with the aviation consulting firm AFCO, the city is pursuing a series of redevelopment initiatives for the airport area, focused on honing the airport’s market strategy, and attracting new logistics and manufacturing activity to the sub area, along with ancillary commercial and retail uses. The concept ultimately targets rejuvenation of the sub area as an employment hub, with an improved road network, and a low to medium density development footprint that exhibits sustainable development practices, is in balance with globally-rare dune and swale in the sub area, and integrates regional greenway initiatives.

INACTIVE/CHANGED

• Reuse of the Mitchell Generating Plant Site P1 This facility closed in 2011, but has not been removed, and no plans for removal or site reuse currently exist.

• Reuse of US Steel Properties P1 This site, which sits in close proximity to Buffington Harbor, is currently occupied by different industrial tenants. There have been no formal public plans made regarding its’ repurposing, and US Steel currently has no plans in place to change either its footprint or the site’s current use.

102 Project Progress Current Assets COMPLETED Lake Michigan Ongoing New/Proposed 1 Kirk Yard

9 WT 2 Gary-Chicago International Conservation Action Plan

ONGOING 3 Trail

4 Canadian National Rail Relocation & Airport Runway Extension

CLINE AV CLINE 6 9 Marina Access Road Improvements 4 2 NEW/PROPOSED ¤£12 7 6 Airport Economic Development 912 10 Opportunities 7 Clark Road Improvements 10 1 (consensus pending) 6 5 8 Clark Road/I-90 potential interchange

Gr alumet EXISTING ASSETS CLARK RD CLARK and C R RD CLARK 3 MG ive r 90 ¥¥ 10 MG 10 Dune & Swale Conservation Land 8 3 5 Gary Chicago International Airport 10 W 4TH AV REGIONAL PROJECTS ¤£20 W 5TH AV MG Marquette Greenway

WT Lake Michigan Water Trail (no stop)

BURR ST ST BURR BURR

• New Mixed Use Development P1 Mixed use development has not occurred in the sub area, and current no such development has been planned by the city.

• Expanded Open Space, Public Access, or Recreational Development P1 No significant increases have occurred or been planned by the city in this sub area.

103 The Marquette Plan Gary Downtown-East Lakefront Updated Vision Gary Downtown/East Lakefront’s updated vision is to support mixed use development and infill development on existing vacant land, to spur transit-oriented development and tourism around existing transit infrastructure, to expand and connect public open space and recre- ation assets in the sub area, to implement neighborhood green infrastructure and sustainable development guidelines, to target commercial and light industrial development along its major corridors, and to enhance historic and cultural assets in the sub area. As with the Gary West sub area, Gary Downtown/East Lakefront’s updated vision has shifted away from specific re- development strategies that target underutilized land currently occupied by US Steel.

Updated Strategies While most of the major projects identified for the Gary Downtown/East Lakefront have not been formally completed, efforts to spur mixed use development, tourism, and improve the Beach - Gary (South Shore Visitors & Convention Authority) district’s open space have gain greater strength, through the following programs:

Lake Michigan

WT LAKE SHORE DR 12 OAK AV In Transition 1 9 Industrial FOREST AV LAKEWOOD AV Marina

Open Space N LAKE ST LAKE N

N LAKE ST LAKE N MG N COUNTY LINE RD LINE COUNTY N ¥90 RD LINE COUNTY N Commercial 2 MG MASON AV Commercial/ 13 ¤£12 E 3RD AV ¤£12 Green Infrastructure 10 ¤£20 Residential

E 5TH AV TAFT ST TAFT TAFT ST TAFT W 6TH AV 8 11 E 7TH AV 5 Mixed Use

7 6 W 8TH AV GRANT ST GRANT GRANT ST GRANT 3 Historic Site 3 ¤£20 W 10TH AV 4 National Registar W 11TH AV 912 ¥65 ¥90 E 12TH AV ¥ Historic District

104 COMPLETED Gary Downtown- East Lakefront 1. Marquette Park Improvements (2012) P1 A E In 2009, the City of Gary was awarded a $28.2 million grant 1 Marquette Park Improvements from the RDA, for planning, design, en- gineering, capital improvements and operational improve- 2 Gary Green Link/Marquette Greenway ments. In 2010, the Marquette Park Lakefront East Master 3 Gateway Green Infrastructure Plan was authored, and since then significant ecological res- toration of the dunes and wetlands has occurred, as well as 4 Miller/ Transit-Oriented Development improvements to the park’s facilities and signage. 5 Redevelopment Projects ONGOING 6 Horace Mann Redevelopment Projects

2. Gary Green Link & Marquette Greenway (2009–) 7 Horace Mann Historic District P1 A T C Gary Green Link - Gary (NIRPC) This sub area holds the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth legs 8 Lake Street Commercial District of the Marquette Greenway, which combined stand as 6.75 miles of the overall regional trail. The Gary 9 Marquette Park Green Link (segment 11) was completed in 2011, providing a .75 mile paved trail that runs from Bridge Neighborhood Improvements Street to Broadway along the southern edge of the Grand Calumet River. Segment 13, a 2-mile crushed 10 Adam Benjamin Metro Center limestone trail extending between North County Line Road and South Grand Boulevard in Miller, has also been built. In between Broadway and South Grand Boulevard are 4 miles of the Marquette Green- 11 Miller Town Hall way (segment 12) that remain unfunded. A funding request for the project has been submitted through 12 Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium the National Park Service, but has yet to be awarded. 13 West 5th Avenue Apartments 3. Neighborhood Green Infrastructure Projects (2012-) E N Historic District A series of green infrastructure projects focused on streetscaping, adding vegetation, neighborhood gar- MG Marquette Greenway dens, and stormwater management techniques to vacant lots and under utilized infrastructure has been undertaken by the city in different parts of Miller and Aetna. WT Marquette Park Water Trail Stop

NEW/PROPOSED

4. Gary Northside Redevelopment Project (2012-) P1 Driven by a collaboration between the City of Gary and the Sustainable Communities Partnership (US EPA, HUD, DOT), preliminary planning, redevelopment, and environmental cleanup efforts have been fo- cused on the Horace Mann, Emerson, Downtown, Aetna and neighborhoods (which make up the majority of the Gary Downtown/East Lakefront sub area). These efforts have been focused on:

105 The Marquette Plan

• Horace Mann: Leveraging Methodist Hospital as a community asset that drives T public health and economic development. This project will target employer-as- N sisted housing, historic structure rehabilitation, blight removal, and neighborhood B planning. Funded in part by NIRPC’s Creating Livable Communities grant pro- gram. • Emerson/Downtown: Revitalizing historic neighborhoods through historic struc- T ture rehabilitation and deconstruction, blight removal, and neighborhood plan- N ning. Funded in part by NIRPC’s Creating Livable Communities grant program. B • Aetna/Miller Beach: Spurring transit-oriented development around the Miller T NICTD station, mixed use, and park improvements throughout the neighbor- E hood areas, as well as light industrial development and commercial strip develop- Emerson neighborhood - Gary (NIRPC) N ment along major corridors. B Though still in its early stages, from this partnership, coordinated planning and development efforts should transpire over the next decade that match the priorities and spirit of the Marquette Plan for the Gary East Lakefront.

Lake Michigan Current Assets Ongoing WT New/Proposed LAKE SHORE DR 12 OAK AV 1 9

FOREST AV LAKEWOOD AV N LAKE ST LAKE N

N LAKE ST LAKE N MG N COUNTY LINE RD LINE COUNTY N ¥90 2 RD LINE COUNTY N MG MASON AV 13 ¤£12 2 E 3RD AV ¤£12 10 ¤£20

E 5TH AV TAFT ST TAFT TAFT ST TAFT W 6TH AV 8 11 E 7TH AV 5

7 6 W 8TH AV GRANT ST GRANT GRANT ST GRANT 3 3 ¤£20 W 10TH AV 4 W 11TH AV 912 ¥65 ¥90 E 12TH AV ¥

106 Project Progress COMPLETED 1 Marquette Park Improvements ONGOING 2 Gary Green Link/Marquette Greenway Miller NICTD Station - Gary (NIRPC) 3 Gateway Green Infrastructure

Marquette Park 9 Neighborhood Improvements NEW/PROPOSED

4 Miller/Aetna Transit-Oriented Development

5 Emerson Redevelopment Projects US 12 & 20 Corridor Redevelopment Area Bridge & Lagoons at Marquette Park - Gary (NIRPC) Gary (NIRPC) 6 Horace Mann Redevelopment Projects EXISTING ASSETS INACTIVE/CHANGED 7 Horace Mann Historic District 8 Lake Street Commercial District • Redevelopment of Land East of US Steel’s Shipping Canal P1 Land is being actively used by US Steel, and is not likely to be vacated for redevelopment any time in 10 Adam Benjamin Metro Center the near future. 11 Miller Town Hall

• Tennessee Street Extension P1 12 Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium There are no existing plans from the city or INDOT to extend Tennessee Street to the lake. 13 West 5th Avenue Apartments • Create a new /90 Connection P1 Historic District There are no existing plans from the city or INDOT to create such a connection. REGIONAL PROJECTS

• Establishment of Lakefront Setback Limitations P1 MG Marquette Greenway The City of Gary has not passed any new setback limitations along the Gary East Lakefront. WT Marquette Park Water Trail Stop

• Establishment of a Lakefront Learning Center P1 No Learning Center has been established on the Lake Street lakefront, due to the City of Gary pri- oritizing other development opportunities.

107 The Marquette Plan

Historic Structures & Districts The Gary Downtown/East Lakefront sub area contains five historic districts (Horace Mann, West 5th Apartments, Gary City Center, Combs, and Eskilson) and one historic property (Ralph Waldo Emerson School) that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Though many of these districts and build- ings are threatened by blight and disinvestment, their traditional street grid pat- tern, access to transportation infrastructure, and walkability, serve as potential drivers for revitalization. Horace Mann Neighborhood H The Horace Mann neighborhood is located between Garfield Street and Roos- evelt Street. The neighborhood contains approximately 140 homes, and is named after its largest landmark, the now vacant Horace Mann High School. The neigh- borhood was developed initially from 1920 to 1940, to meet demand from Gary’s growing middle and upper-class population, a product of the city’s boom- ing steel industry. Early twentieth century period revival styles (such as Colonial, Tudor, Spanish Eclectic, and Dutch Colonial) predominate throughout the district, as well as the Craftsman, Arts & Crafts, and Prairie style buildings. Though cer- tainly not immune to the vacancy and blight that has threatened neighborhoods throughout the city, Horace Mann’s buildings and streets have not been impacted as significantly as other areas in Gary. With many of its assets still intact, in 2014, the neighborhood was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. West 5th Avenue Apartments Historic District H Designated under the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, the West 5th Avenue Apartments Historic District is located along US 20 (5th Avenue), just west of Gary City Center. The small historic district contains an intact collec- tion of early twentieth century 2-8 flat apartment buildings that were developed to house Gary’s growing middle class population, as well as a mix of Spanish Eclectic, Neoclassical, Collegiate Gothic, and Renaissance Revival. These build- ings were designed with the assistance of the Gary Land Company (a US Steel subsidiary) and are within the first area planned by the company in the city. As in Horace Mann, the quality and integrity of the housing stock in the West 5th Avenue Apartments Historic District remains higher than in many other areas of the city. Top & Bottom: Horace Mann Historic District - Gary (NIRPC)

108 Gary City Center Historic District - Gary (NIRPC) Ralph Waldo Emerson School - Gary (NIRPC) Gary City Center Historic District H Designated on the Historic Register in 1994, Gary’s City Center Historic District runs along six blocks of Broadway Avenue, from 4th to 9th Av- enue. The district contains many commercial and institutional buildings that date back to the founding of Gary in 1906. Originally, it held over 100 buildings and structures. However, targeted demolition, demolition by neglect, and fire damage have reduced the number of historic buildings in the area. The architecture that has survived reflects the styles that were popular in many Midwestern downtowns at the turn of the twentieth century: Neoclassical, Art Deco, Colonial Revival and Classical Revival. While the density and structural integrity of Gary Center City has diminished since its listing on the National Register, its location, infrastructure, and design, still remain as assets that can drive redevelopment. Framework tools that could be applied within the district include historic resource rehabilitation, public- private partnerships, development-design standards and utilization of incentives that encourage historic preservation. As resources within the district are in various states of disrepair and phase approach to rehabilitation is recommended. This should begin with prioritized stabilization of significant resources to preserve their architectural character, allowing them to remain eligible for financial incentives Ralph Waldo Emerson School H Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995, Ralph Waldo Emerson School (716 East 7th Avenue) is located in, and serves as the namesake for, the Emerson neighborhood in Gary. Dating back to 1908, Emerson is the oldest school in Gary. A state-of-the-art facility for its time, the school boasted mechanical shops, science labs, a student-run bank, a student-run zoo, and was the first school in the country have an indoor swimming pool. The school was initially closed in 1981, and then reopened in the mid 1980’s as a visual and performing arts school. In 2008, the institution formally moved out of the building due to mold issues. As Emerson School has sat vacant for a number of years and unsecured it has recently fallen victim to increased vandalism and scavengers. These factors have led to a rapid increase in its deterioration due to water infiltration and exposure to the elements. It is recommended that a rapid plan of action be developed to include securing of funding to assess the building’s structural integrity, the development of a collaboration which includes the organization of a public-private partnership willing to work to imple- ment the plans of the Gary Northside Redevelopment Project. 109 The Marquette Plan Porter County West Updated Vision Porter County West stands as a sub area composed of three different municipalities that share a common geography and experience: Portage, Ogden Dunes, and Burns Harbor. This section will serve as a combined update of the vision and strategies for this sub area from Phase I (Portage) and Phase II (Portage, Ogden Dunes, Burns Harbor) of the Marquette Plan. The priorities in Porter County West include ex- panding lakefront park space, improving road and trail access to the lakefront and the marinas, removing derelict infrastructure, spurring transit-oriented develop- ment, as well as infill development along major corridors, enhancing gateways, im- proving aesthetics, managing watersheds, redeveloping brownfields, and increasing safety and placemaking. Ameriplex Drive - Portage (NIRPC)

Updated Strategies

COMPLETED

1. AmeriPlex at the Port Development – Portage (1999-) P1 T Partnering with Holladay Properties, the City of Portage contributed $2.7 mil- lion towards infrastructure construction at the new development, in addition to issuing a $17.5 million TIF bond to assist the developer in attracting Bass Pro Shops to the site, which opened in 2007.

2. Portage Northside Master Plan – Portage (2005) P1 A T E Serving as the overall framework for a varying array of development projects, the Portage Northside Master Plan is focused on leveraging the land north of US 20 as new areas for residential, mixed use, office space, and commercial development, in addition to lakefront park space, trails, and water recreation. Authored by JJR, SEH, and Huff & Huff, the plan was completed at roughly the same time as the first phase of the Marquette Plan, the residential development at Marina Shores, and the office space development at Ameriplex. In that capac- ity, the recommendations of this master plan serve to augment many of the Deer Trail Park - Portage (Indiana Dunes Tourism)

110 Porter County West WT 1 Ameriplex at the Port Lake Michigan Planned Unit Development

2 Portage Northside Master Plan Area WT 3 Deer Trail Park

4 Marina Shores at Dune Harbor 5 14 MG 5 Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk ¤£12 6 Salt Creek Management Plan

13 7 Marquette Greenway Sub Area Plan 4 Waterway Portage-Burns 249 16 7 8 Burns Harbor Downtown/US 20 ¤£12 10 MG 10 Sub Area MG HAGLUND RD 9 3 9 Burns Parkway Construction AMERIPLEX DR 94 ¥ 10 Marquette Greeway 5 13 11 1 6 15 8 11 SR 249 Gateway Improvements 94 ¥ ¤£20 12 Portage US 20 Corridor

OLD PORTER RD

N COUNTY LINE RD RD LINE LINE COUNTY COUNTY N N 2

12 149 13 Portage Ecosystem Restoration Projects

SAMUELSON RD RD SAMUELSON SAMUELSON

CRIMSON RD RD CRIMSON CRIMSON N 200 W 200 N N 200 W 200 N 14 Deerfield Woods Restoration & Employee Wellness Trail developments that were already underway in those areas. Serving as the overall In Transition Proposed EIS & Remediation at framework for Portage’s entire portion of the West Porter County sub area, Industrial 15 Abandoned Truck Stop the rest of Portage’s projects within this sub area derive from, or are related to, Marina this catalytic plan. Additionally, the plan is currently undergoing an update. Proposed Fishing Access at Open Space 16 Little Calumet River 3. Deer Trail Park Improvements – Portage (2007) Commercial A E Commercial/ In partnership with the IDNR Lake Michigan Coastal Program, the City of Por- Green Infrastructure MG Marquette Greenway Residential tage Parks and Recreation Department restored 16 acres of upland and flood- Portage Lakefront & WT plain forest at Deer Trail Park, adjacent to the Little Calumet River. A $413,669 Mixed Use Portage Public Marina Water Trail Stops project in total, the effort was heavily focused on exotic and invasive species Historic Site National Registar removal, and replacement with native species within the project area. The City Historic District of Portage Parks Department has restored the park and trail by removing non- native species. 111 The Marquette Plan

4. Marina Shores at Dune Harbor – Portage (2007) P1 A T N The new subdivision, representing a mixture of single family homes, townhomes, and commercial development, provides easy access to the marina, the Portage/ Ogden Dunes NICTD station, and the Portage Lakefront Park. To aid in the de- velopment, the City of Portage assisted Brant Construction with a $17.5 million economic development bond for infrastructure construction.

5. Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk – Portage (2008) P1 P2 A E Standing as one of the signature accomplishments from Phase I of the Marquette Plan, the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk boasts a beautiful public beach, fishing pier, a restored dune and swale ecosystem, a 900 foot breakwater system, a riv- Portage Lakefront Pavilion - Portage (NIRPC) erwalk, and a LEED Gold-certified multi-use pavilion, equipped with geothermal heating and cooling, passive solar, and other Low Impact Design measures. The park’s site was formerly used as a settling pond for industrial byproduct, and as a sewage treatment facility, making the project a significant exercise in brownfield remediation. It represents a $6.3 million partnership between the Regional De- velopment Authority, the City of Portage, and the National Park Service.

6. Salt Creek Watershed Management Plan – Portage (2008) P2 E See page 58.

7. Marquette Greenway Sub Area Plan – Burns Harbor (2009) P2 A T N C Building upon the regional vision of the Marquette Greenway Plan, Burns Har- bor’s sub area plan provides design considerations, market analyses, and imple- Portage Lakefront Park Dune & Swale Path - Portage (NIRPC) mentation strategies for utilizing the trail as a catalyst for expanded sustainable development in the areas that surround it.

8. Downtown & US 20 Sub Area Plan – Burns Harbor (2011) P2 T B This plan was prepared in concert with three related efforts: the Burns Har- bor Comprehensive Plan update, the town’s Smart Growth Zoning Ordinance (which used form-based codes to implement the comprehensive plan’s policies), and the Marquette Greenway Sub Area Plan. The plan focuses on strengthening all aspects of the community through “new urbanism” techniques, highlighted by the development of a new walkable, mixed use district. The plan also targets enhanced connections to the Marquette Greenway and expanded community open spaces, the reclamation and redevelopment of Standard Truck Plaza, and streetscape improvements for US 20 and SR 149. Portage Riverwalk - Portage (NIRPC) 112 Project Progress

Current Assets COMPLETED WT Ongoing 1 Ameriplex at the Port Lake Michigan Planned Unit Development New/Proposed 2 Portage Northside Master Plan Area WT 3 Deer Trail Park

4 Marina Shores at Dune Harbor

5 14 Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk MG 5 ¤£12 6 Salt Creek Management Plan

13 7 Marquette Greenway Sub Area Plan Portage-Burns Waterway Portage-Burns 4 249 16 8 Burns Harbor Downtown/US 20 ¤£12 10 MG 10 7 Sub Area MG HAGLUND RD ONGOING 9 3 AMERIPLEX DR ¥94 9 Burns Parkway Construction 13 11 1 6 15 8 10 Marquette Greeway 94 ¥ ¤£20 11 SR 249 Gateway Improvements

OLD PORTER RD N COUNTY LINE RD LINE COUNTY N N COUNTY LINE RD LINE COUNTY N \ 2 NEW/PROPOSED

12 149 SAMUELSON RD SAMUELSON

SAMUELSON RD SAMUELSON 12 Portage US 20 Corridor

CRIMSON RD CRIMSON CRIMSON RD CRIMSON

N 200 W W 200 200 N N 13 Portage Ecosystem Restoration Projects

ONGOING Deerfield Woods Restoration & 14 Employee Wellness Trail 9. Burns Parkway Construction – Portage (2007-) P2 T Proposed EIS & Remediation at Construction of the proposed Burns Parkway has been completed for the portion extending from 15 Abandoned Truck Stop SR 249 to Willowcreek Road. West of Willowcreek Road, the planned road curves northward, ulti- Proposed Fishing Access at mately connecting with US 12 and the Portage/Ogden Dunes NICTD station. The City of Portage 16 owns the land that this road extension traverses through, and has begun preliminary surveying work. Little Calumet River The City still needs to secure a funding source to support this project however, in addition to coor- REGIONAL PROJECTS dinating with the Town of Ogden Dunes on the road’s alignment. MG Marquette Greenway

WT Portage Lakefront & Portage Public Marina Water Trail Stops 113 The Marquette Plan

10. Marquette Greenway – All 3 Communities (2009-) P2 A T C Holding the fourteenth leg of the Marquette Greenway, Porter County West’s segment extends eastward from the Gary/Portage border, through Ogden Dunes, back in to Portage, and continues through Burns Harbor, where it ultimately connects with the Calumet Trail in Dune Acres. Spanning 8 miles in length, this segment roughly traces US 12, until curving south at SR 249. At Ameriplex Drive, the trail curves eastward, past SR 249, and on to Burns Harbor, where it runs along the Little Calumet River, through National Park land. A segment running from the Little Calumet River to just east of SR 249 has been completed, with the eastern expansion of the trail through Ameri- plex Drive funded for construction. The other portions of this segment are awaiting funding.

11. SR 249 Corridor Gateway Improvements – Portage (2013-) P2 A T Slated for completion in Fall 2014, Portage has commissioned a study focusing on design and development guidelines, improved transportation access, infra- structure enhancements, streetscaping, and wayfinding systems for SR 249, the highway corridor connecting I-94 with the Port of Indiana and Portage Marina Shores - Portage (NIRPC) Lakefront. The recommendations of this study will help steer future projects along the corridor.

NEW/PROPOSED

12. US 20 Corridor Plan – Portage (2012-) P2 A T N This effort entails plans for the revitalization of the US 20 Corridor through- out the City of Portage. It specifies recommendations regarding future land use and development, provides design and development guidelines, improved transportation access, infrastructure enhancements, streetscaping, and way- finding systems. Additionally, the plan puts forth improved regulatory stan- dards and guidelines for a corridor enhancement overlay district. 13. Little Calumet East Branch Watershed Plan – Portage, Burns Harbor, Porter, Chesterton (2012-) See page 59 Downtown & US 20 Sub Area Plan - Burns Harbor (SEH, Inc.)

114 14. Portage Ecosystem Restoration Efforts – Portage (2013-) P1 P2 E This overall effort has involved three different projects that focus on two different locations. The first of these locations is the former US Steel Training Site, which has been acquired by the city, and is undergoing restoration as open space, with dunes, meadows, and wet oak savan- nah. The new park will also have an access road, parking lot, visitor and maintenance facilities, and bike trail that connects the lakefront with the Marquette Greenway. The project will also involve drawing back the banks of the Burns Waterway. The infrastructure for this new open space development is being funded by the ‘Portage Lakefront South Properties Project Phase I.’ The ecological restoration on site has been driven by the ‘Portage Parks Section 125 Plans’ and Feasibility Plan, a collaboration between the City and the Army Corps of Engineers. The Section 125 Plans have also driven dune restoration efforts at a site further south, near Ameriplex Drive and Willowcreek Road, on the southern end of the Burns Waterway. Projects are targeting completion by late 2015. 15. Deerfield Woods Restoration & Employee Wellness Trail –Burns Harbor (2014) E A product of a partnership between Arcelor Mittal and the Wildlife Habitat Council, this project focused on restoring over 40 acres of dune and swale habitat as trails and conservation land, Ecosystem Restoration & Trail Development adjacent to Arcelor Mittal’s Burns Harbor facility. Though this land is not accessible to the gen- Near NIRPC Offices - Portage (NIRPC) eral public, it is to the thousands of Arcelor Mittal employees that work at the steel mill. With this restored trail, employees can benefit from exercise and access to natural areas, while the environment benefits from increased stewardship, habitat connectivity, and decreased sediment runoff.

INACTIVE/CHANGED

• Transit-Oriented Development – Portage P1 P2 There are no existing efforts from the city or a developer to create a TOD on the site south of the Portage Lakefront Park.

• Commissioning a Transportation Management Plan – Portage P2 The City has not undertaken any formal effort to institute a Transportation Management Plan.

• Assessment & Remediation of Abandoned Truck Stop – Burns Harbor P2 No action has been taken by the town or any of the regulatory agencies on cleaning up this site.

• Fishing on the Little Calumet River – Burns Harbor P2 No action has been taken on instituting the necessary infrastructure for fishing on the Little Deerfield Woods Restoration & Employee Wellness Calumet River by the town. Trail - Burns Harbor (Northwest Indiana Times) 115 The Marquette Plan Duneland Porter County • Porter lakefront • Dune Acres • Beverly Shores • Pines

Updated Vision Duneland stands as a sub area composed of five different jurisdictions, and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, that share a common geography and experience: the Town of Porter’s lakefront, Porter County, Dune Acres, Beverly Shores, and Pines. Previously titled “Porter County East” in Phase II of the Marquette Plan, this section provides an updated vision and updated strategies for the communities as a group. This includes improving visi- tor access and wayfinding systems to the State Park and the National Lakeshore, increasing transit access between the parks and Duneland’s communities, enhancing streetscaping, green infrastructure and non-motorized access along US 12, developing natural resource conservation strategies, expanding trail connections through the sub area’s parks, enhanc- ing gateways along major roads (US 12, 20, SR 49, County Line Road), resolving parking and traffic issues at parks and town centers, upgrading infrastructure, and supporting historic preservation and heritage tourism.

Updated Strategies

COMPLETED 1. Town of Porter Comprehensive Plan - Porter (2004) A T N Porter developed a comprehensive plan in 2004, to help implement their portion of the Marquette Plan. The plan emphasizes developing strategies that create a vibrant downtown and improve connectivity between downtown and surrounding attractions, as well as trail expansion and gateway and streetscape enhancement. The plan also in- cludes recommendations and guidelines for capturing growth, revenue generation, and quality of life benefits from lakefront tourism. 2. Beverly Shores Comprehensive Plan – Beverly Shores (2012) A T E C In their latest comprehensive plan update, the town of Beverly Shores issued recom- mendations for conserving the town’s dunes (through land use controls, vegetation preservation, erosion monitoring, and beach nourishment programs), expanding green Lake Michigan Coastline - Porter County (Indiana Dunes Tourism) 116 Duneland WT MG 1 Town of Porter Comprehensive Plan 4 (beach portion) ! Lake Michigan 18 3 2 Beverly Shores Compehensive Plan WT 17 E LAKE FRONT2 DR 13 3 Town of Pines Comprehensive Plan WT !!15 4 Calumet Trail 8 9 16 E 1600 N 5 Dunes Kankakee Trail MG 1413 12 7 4 6 National Lakeshore Shuttle (proposed)

1 ¤£20 N 300 E 300 N 20 E 300 N 5 ¤£12 19 ¥94 7 Improvements 10 In Transition Shoreline Restoration &

11 Industrial 8 N 500 E 500 N 6 E 500 N Management Plan EIS E 1400 N Marina

49 N 600 E Open Space 9 Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Interpretive Plan

Commercial

N 375 E E 375 375 N N ! Little CalumetCOUNTY LINE RD N River See Chesterton/Porter Insert Commercial/ 10 US 12 Scenic Road MG Green Infrastructure ! Residential 11 Cowles Bog Restoration Plans ! Mixed Use ! Wabash Avenue Porter Access

! ! E 1200 N Historic Site 12 N 575 E 575 N N 575 E 575 N Environmental Assessment National Registar

Historic District N 250 E 250 N TEXAS ST E 250 N 13 Birdwatching at Interdunal Marsh 14 Depot Museum & Art Galley space on unbuildable lots, maintaining public infrastructure by devising effective oversight strategies, 15 Beverly Shores NICTD Station and cooperating with the IDNL to address issues of traffic control, parking, and beach access for Bartlett Real Estate Office residents and visitors. The plan also proposes new commercial development along the US 12 corridor 16 Century of Progress Homes (from Broadway to Lake Shore County Road) that would provide amenities to residents and visitors of 17 the IDNL, through updated commercial district zoning, improved non-motorized access to and along Historic District the corridor, and designation of US 12 as a scenic highway. 18 Imre & Maria Horner House 19 Dunes Walk Inn 3. Town of Pines Comprehensive Plan – Pines (2014) P2 A T N Completed this year by SEH Inc., the plan’s recommendations include a clustered approach to rede- 20 Schoolhouse Shop velopment, focusing on the eastern end of US 12, which over time, should transition to mixed use MG Marquette Greenway development, combining commercial and higher-density residential development. This concentration of development will take advantage of the access points for the town’s two major tourist attractions: Dunes State Park Water Trail Stop, Kemil WT Road Beach Water Trail Stop, Central Central Avenue Beach and Mount Baldy. The plan also recommends that SR 520 serve as a target area Avenue Beach Water Trail Stop for light industrial development, recreational uses, off-site beach parking, or energy production.

117 The Marquette Plan

Calumet Trail - Porter County (Indiana Dunes Tourism) Dunes Kankakee Trail at State Park Entrance - Porter County (NIRPC)

ONGOING

4. Calumet Trail (Marquette Greenway) – All Communities (1971-) P2 A T C Originally built in 1971, the Calumet Trail stands as the fifteenth leg of the Marquette Greenway. Providing 9 miles of crushed limestone through national and state park land, the trail links Mineral Springs Road to the west, with County Line Road to the east, at the Porter-LaPorte county border. Though the trail has served as a tremendous asset to the region for over four decades, its surface has been difficult to maintain. In 2002, the trail underwent significant resurfacing. In 2009, Porter County Parks and affiliated stakeholders agreed to reconstruct the trail as asphalt. Standing as a five phase project, $3.6 million has been tapped for phases I, II, and V, with construction of each reaching completion in 2015 (Phase I), 2016 (Phase II), and 2021 (Phase V). Additional funding for phases III and IV is being pursued.

5. Dunes Kankakee Trail – Porter County, Porter, Chesterton (2010-) P2 A T C The Dunes Kankakee trail is now a blend of the original alignment from Marquette Plan Phase II (which runs parallel to IN 49), Porter’s segment of the Calumet Trail, and the Brickyard Trail. Currently 5.4 miles in length, this trail connects the lakefront at Indiana Dunes State Park, with the Calumet Trail (Marquette Greenway), the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitors’ Center, the Prairie Duneland trail in Chesterton, and other trail segments in south Porter County. As of 2014, the link to Prairie Duneland trail and the branch of the trail running along IN 49 (south of US 20) has yet to be completed. Both are slated for letting in 2015. Project improvements include paving, trail restoration and flood control techniques.

6. National Lakeshore Shuttle Service – All Communities (2012-) P2 A T C See page 69.

118 WT Project Progress MG 4 COMPLETED ! Lake Michigan 18 3 1 Town of Porter Comprehensive Plan 17 E LAKE FRONT2 DR WT (beach portion) 14 2 Beverly Shores Compehensive Plan WT !!15 3 Town of Pines Comprehensive Plan 9 E 1600 N ONGOING 8 MG 16 13 12 7 4 4 Calumet Trail 1

¤£20 5 Dunes Kankakee Trail (existing asset) N 300 E 300 N 20 E 300 N 5 ¤£12 19 ¥94 10 6 National Lakeshore Shuttle

11 NEW/PROPOSED N 500 E 500 N 6 E 500 N E 1400 N 7 Indiana Dunes State Park Improvements

49 N 600 E Shoreline Restoration &

8

N 375 E E 375 375 N N COUNTY LINE RD N Management Plan EIS ! See Chesterton/Porter Insert Little Calumet River MG Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore 9 ! Interpretive Plan Current Assets !! 10 US 12 Scenic Road ! ! E 1200 N

Ongoing Cowles Bog Restoration Plans N 575 E 575 N N 575 E 575 N 11

New/Proposed N 250 E 250 N TEXAS ST E 250 N Wabash Avenue Porter Access 12 Environmental Assessment 14 Birdwatching at Interdunal Marsh NEW/PROPOSED EXISTING ASSETS 13 Beverly Shores NICTD Station 7. Indiana Dunes State Park Improvements – Porter County (2005-) 15 Depot Museum & Art Galley Projects that the state park is undertaking include a new bird watching tower, a new solar wastewater Bartlett Real Estate Office treatment plant, revamped parking and traffic patterns, renovated campgrounds, and a new restaurant 16 Century of Progress Homes operating in a rehabbed pavilion. 17 Historic District 8. Shoreline Restoration & Mgmt. Plan Environmental Impact Statement – All Communities (2011-) E 18 Imre & Maria Horner House The purpose of this plan’s EIS is for to manage and maintain a more natural shoreline at the park, by 19 Dunes Walk Inn developing and analyzing science-based alternatives to address sand movement and management of 20 Schoolhouse Shop the dune system. REGIONAL PROJECTS MG Marquette Greenway Indiana Dunes Porter, Kemil Road Beach, WT Central Avenue Beach Water Trail Stops 119 The Marquette Plan

9. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Long-Range Interpretive Plan – All Com- munities (2011-) P2 A E This plan’s focus is to preserve, restore, and protect the outstanding ecological and biological diversity, and geologic features indigenous to the south shore of Lake Michigan. The plan also prioritizes access for the region’s population to the lakeshore’s scenic open spaces, historic features, educational, scientific, and recreational opportunities. New projects listed by the plan include a proposal by the non-profit Railhead, for the creation of a Dunes Transit Authority, which would lay track and operate vintage South Shore railcars, bringing visitors from the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center to areas in the State Park. Indiana Dunes State Park - Porter County (Indiana Dunes Tourism) 10. US 12 Scenic Road – All Communities (2012-) P2 A T C The National Park Service (NPS) has been negotiating with INDOT over the relinquishment of US 12, from the state to the park service, to be managed as part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. NPS envisions US 12 as a scenic route, but the significant amount of freight traffic travelling along this highway has left many questions to be answered regarding the upkeep and maintenance of this road. If the state decides not to relinquish the road, the NPS will con- tinue to work with INDOT and the local communities to improve the driving experience through the park. 11. Little Calumet East Branch Watershed Plan – Portage, Burns Harbor, Porter, Ches- terton (2012-) See page 59. Indiana Dunes State Park - Porter County (Indiana Dunes Tourism)

12. Little Calumet River Trail Enhancements – Porter (2013-) P2 A The town of Porter is planning on building a boardwalk through the hardwood portion of the Little Calumet River Trail. 13. Cowles Bog Restoration – Porter County (2014-) E Various restoration projects have been identified for different wetlands throughout Cowles Bog, including invasive species removal, the reduction of certain shrub and tree species, and establishment of desired native forbs, sedg- es, grasses, shrubs, and trees. Restoring the Cowles Bog lakeplain wet-mesic prairie will require landscape modifications to restore hydrology, remove trees, and plant prairie forbs, grasses and sedges. This entire project could cost up US 12 Corridor - Town of Pines (NIRPC) 120 to $1.6 million, and take 10 to 15 years to complete. Currently, al- most $800,000 has been contributed by the NPS and the Restoration Initiative, in addition to other funding provided by local philanthropic groups and public agencies. 14. Wabash Avenue/Porter Access Environmental Assessment – Porter (2014) T E With the National Park Service issuing a ‘Finding of No Significant Impact’ for the “Wabash Avenue/Porter Access Site for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore,” Porter will coordinate with the NPS to improve the sidewalk along Wabash Avenue, for visitor safety and accessibility, while NPS will correct problems with the foot-wash station, and re- store the dune near the town’s parking lot.

INACTIVE/CHANGED

• Beverly Drive Improvements – Beverly Shores P2 No political agreements or compromise has been made regarding Bike Path in Indiana Dunes State Park - Porter County (Indiana Dunes Tourism) how to improve Beverly Drive. Currently the road has a wooden bridge over it that was built by residents due to unsafe road crossing.

Historic Structures & Districts Duneland contains a large collection of sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Of particular importance to the public access and infra- structure focus of the Marquette Plan is the Beverly Shores South Shore Railroad Station.

Beverly Shores South Shore Railroad Station T H Designed by the architect Arthur Gerber, and built in in 1929, the Medi- terranean-revival style building serves as the NICTD station for commut- ers primarily moving between Beverley Shores and the City of Chicago. The stucco and terra cotta building is the last of a series of station houses that populated the electric railroad lines that owned by Samuel Insull in the Chicago metro region. The station now also houses an art museum, Beverly Shores NICTD Station - Beverly Shores (Stephen Sostaric) and supports a large, nostalgic neon sign reading “Beverly Shores.”

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