New Projects & Opportunities

The Marquette Plan NEW PROJECTS & OPPORTUNITIES New Projects & Opportunities Since the initial Marquette Plan was published in 2005, numerous projects and strategies for promoting redevelopment, conservation, tourism, and livability have risen to the foreground. Some new projects are the result of changing economic conditions and trends well beyond the region. Others reflect new information or adaptations to obstacles and barriers. Incor- porating these opportunities and changes into The Marquette Plan strengthens its vision and purpose, ensures it remains a living document, and enriches the region’s toolbox for promoting the shoreline as a place to live, work, and play. Rightsizing & Land Banking The concept of “rightsizing” involves undertaking the long-range planning, land assembly, and demolition needed to adapt a city’s physical landscape to serve a smaller population, when an urban area has experienced significant population loss and disinvestment. In recent years, many of Northwest Indiana’s legacy industrial cities have explored ways in which rightsizing can ad- dress the prevalent issue of vacant buildings and vacant land in their communities. As with many regions throughout the US, the large cluster of vacant buildings in Northwest Indiana result from the decreased investment in real estate in these communities, and the epi- demic of foreclosures that have threatened neighborhoods all over the country. Many of these vacant buildings have been left to deteriorate without any upkeep, and pose as threats to the safety, perception, and property values of the neighborhoods they are in. Vacant lots pose similar threats, and the scattered and fragmented nature by which they have emerged can make large-scale land assembly and land marketing a challenge for a municipality. Throughout the country, many legacy industrial areas have turned to “land banking” as a strategy for acquiring, managing, and repurposing vacant land. A land bank is a public authority that can acquire the title to vacant and abandoned properties, streamline the process of redevelop- ing these sites, and can transfer property to a new owner in a way that supports community needs and priorities. In cities like Flint, Cleveland, and Buffalo, land banking has proven to be a critical component in their redevelopment process. Similar opportunities for successful land banking exist in Northwest Indiana’s urban core areas, which should be pursued, in concert with policy changes to the State of Indiana’s land banking legislation that would augment the Vacant Lot & Building in Emerson neighborhood - Gary operational flexibility of such authorities. (NIRPC) The Marquette Plan Green Buildings and Historic Preservation In spite of the deteriorated state many of Northwest Indiana’s vacant buildings are in, plenty of buildings and structures remain that still possess value. It is important to highlight that many of these vacant structures possess architectural features that are significant and worth preserving. For buildings where rehabilitation is a viable option, historic preservation or adaptive reuse of the structure should be prioritized in an effort to retain the rich and diverse architectural qualities of the region’s legacy cities. Historic preservation strategies stand as preferable to demolition as a default strategy, which not only can prove to be an expensive undertaking in a tight fiscal environment, but also can result in the loss of the types of architectural assets that can drive neighborhood and downtown revitalization. As highlighted in in the “Rightsizing Cities Initia- tive,” when communities combine preservation values with planning efforts, the opportunity exists to leverage historic buildings, districts, and neighborhoods as key drivers for rightsizing and revitalization efforts. This process can be furthered by accessing preservation incentives, community resources and inventorying neighborhood assets. Green building principles support environmentally responsible and resource efficient building design with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental impacts. Green Deconstruction Each year approximately one billion square feet of building are demolished and replaced with new construction. Studies show that 25% (82 billion square feet) of the nation’s existing building stock will be demolished and replaced by 2030. The cycle of demolition and construction has large environ- Municipal department building in Lafayette, IN that has been restored with green retrofits (Indiana Landmarks) mental impacts; while the reuse and retrofit of existing buildings, when feasible, allow the opportunity to gain carbon and other environmental savings. For buildings that are beyond feasible rehabilitation options, they may still possess material value, which can be collected prior to demolition. The practice of “Green Deconstruction” has been em- ployed in many parts of the country as a means of reclaiming building materials that have retained both structural integrity and value in the resale market. Green deconstruction practices limit the environmental impacts caused by conventional demolition, in the form of reduced debris, runoff and airborne particle matter from the project site. Additionally, the attention to detail emphasized by green deconstruct practices leave newly-vacant lots more ready for development, by limiting the contamination and structural remains on site. Lastly, when green deconstruction is considered, Middle Way House building (a repurposed Coca-Cola materials and architectural details can be repurposed in other projects recommended by Marquette bottling plant in Bloomington, IN) serves as an example of adaptive reuse and green retrofit (Indiana Landmarks) Plan Frameworks such as arts and cultural districts and lakefront recreational areas. 140 NEW PROJECTS & OPPORTUNITIES Arts & Culture Districts In 2008, the Indiana legislature approved the creation of “Indiana Statewide Cultural Districts.” The purpose of these districts is to pro- mote the exploration of and participation in arts and culture experi- ences that are unique to Indiana communities, while also supporting community life and economic vitality. Specifically, these districts have the potential to connect existing cultural resources in a community, while supporting arts-driven economic development initiatives, like tourism, entertainment, and business development. After designation by the Indiana Arts Commission, benefits can include increased tourism marketing, economic activity, opportunities for collaboration with the Indiana Artisan Program, and promotional highway signage. Viable areas in the region where arts and culture districts could be applied include Michigan City (application pending), Gary-Midtown, Gary-Miller Beach, and areas of Porter County. Watershed Planning Northwest Indiana is one of 18 areas nationwide with a new, federally-designated Urban Waters program. For earning this designation, the previous phases of the Marquette Plan, among other factors, were critical in demonstrating the region’s commitment to improving public access to its bodies of water. Working in concert with the goals of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, Urban Waters is focused on revitalizing communities, creating jobs, and improving the quality of life in our nation’s cities and towns, by reconnecting urban communities with their waterways, improving inter-agency co- ordination, and facilitating community led revitalization efforts. Street Art on Lake Street in the Miller Beach neighborhood - Gary (NIRPC) 141 The Marquette Plan Complete Streets Complete Streets is a program that prioritizes making streets safe and functional for all modes of transportation, including automobiles, pedestrians, cyclists, buses, etc. This typically can be achieved through the implementation of various design guidelines and planning best practices. This com- monly involves such measures as: • Sidewalk improvements (widening, planters, streetlamps) • Crosswalks • Pedestrian islands • Pedestrian traffic signals • Bicycle lanes (cycle track, designated, shared lane, bike box) In May, 2010, the NIRPC Executive Board unanimously approved a landmark resolution requiring all new federally-aided roadway projects in the three county region to consider incorporating Complete Streets design standards. The standards established a template for Northwest Indiana’s communities to utilize in adapting their roadways to accommodate for a broader array of transportation modes. Complete Street Design Guidelines from the Lake Michigan Gateway Implementation Plan (Hitchcock Group) 142 The Marquette Plan MANAGEMENT & IMPLEMENTATION The Marquette Plan Management & Implementation As identified in the earlier phases of the Marquette Plan, the character, development, and priorities of Northwest Indiana’s shoreline are constantly evolving. In the decade since the authoring of Phase I, an impressive number of the Marquette Plan’s projects have been implemented, while significant progress has been made in realizing many of the plan’s region-wide priorities. Since 2005, a greater percentage of the region’s shoreline is pub- licly-accessible, significant environmental remediation efforts have occurred, impressive community redevelopment initiatives are underway, and the mileage of trails serving the lakefront only continues to grow. At the same time, in the decade that has unfolded since Phase I, shifts in the economy and changes in political priorities have altered the trajectory

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