Northwest Indiana Development News

[Chicagoland312]

As you may or may not know, Northwest Indiana by definition consists of Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, and Jasper counties; however, the main counties are Lake & Porter. Basically just commuter counties for business professionals that work in Chicago, NWI has let its urban centers slip into decline with no immediate sign of recovery (Gary, Hammond, & EC). While the Northern part of Lake County is declining, generally the more south you go, the more development you see. This thread is for development happening in Northwest Indiana. Some of you may know more than I do, so that's why I started this thread.

[IndyYeah]

Originally Posted by Chicagoland312

As you may or may not know, Northwest Indiana by definition consists of Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, and Jasper counties; however, the main counties are Lake & Porter. Basically just commuter counties for business professionals that work in Chicago, NWI has let its urban centers slip into decline with no immediate sign of recovery (Gary, Hammond, & EC). While the Northern part of Lake County is declining, generally the more south you go, the more development you see. This thread is for development happening in Northwest Indiana. Some of you may know more than I do, so that's why I started this thread.

Since me being in Chesterton, I am all for Illinois people moving here. Bring some skyscraper money to Indy!

[mobyhead]

My dad moved us from Chicago's southside to South Haven, IN in 1972. My wife's from Valparaiso and I have a brother in Portage. Very fond of the area. I remember going to downtown Hammond when I was a kid. My mom loved to shop at the antique and thrift stores there.

[mobyhead]

Chicago tax could help northwest Indiana
Tue. October 02 - 2007

IBJ Staff


Development leaders in northwest Indiana want to pounce if commissioners in Cook County, Ill., follow through on a proposal to raise sales taxes to 11 percent-the highest in the nation-to plug a budget shortfall.

If commissioners raise the tax at a meeting Oct. 16, the level will be nearly twice the 6 percent sales tax across the border in Indiana. That could turn northwest Indiana into a retailing Mecca for tax-weary Chicagoans if the region takes advantage of the disparity to push retail development, according to the Post-Tribune of Merrillville.

The CEO of the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Speros Batistatos, said the region should use tax increment financing to lure high-end stores that would attract Chicago residents.

"The average customer is going to take notice," said Schererville Plan Commission President Tom Anderson. "They can buy more for the same price in Indiana."

[Chicagoland312]

Originally Posted by mobyhead

Chicago tax could help northwest Indiana
Tue. October 02 - 2007

IBJ Staff


Development leaders in northwest Indiana want to pounce if commissioners in Cook County, Ill., follow through on a proposal to raise sales taxes to 11 percent-the highest in the nation-to plug a budget shortfall.

If commissioners raise the tax at a meeting Oct. 16, the level will be nearly twice the 6 percent sales tax across the border in Indiana. That could turn northwest Indiana into a retailing Mecca for tax-weary Chicagoans if the region takes advantage of the disparity to push retail development, according to the Post-Tribune of Merrillville.

The CEO of the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Speros Batistatos, said the region should use tax increment financing to lure high-end stores that would attract Chicago residents.

"The average customer is going to take notice," said Schererville Plan Commission President Tom Anderson. "They can buy more for the same price in Indiana."

You don't know how long I've been thinking about this!

Our taxes are dirt cheap compared to the Illinois side, yet we stilll have no type of upscale retail. Sure we have Southlake Mall, but that doesn't even begin to compare with the Mag Mile, Woodfield, or Old Orchard..

[Chicagoland312]

Speaking of which, I don't know if any of you are familiar with the intersection of Main Street and Indianapolis Boulevard (U.S. 41), the dividing line between Highland and Schererville. Well, they're planning on building a "lifestyle center" there. With Briar Ridge, White Oak Estates, and Munster's upper-middle class, I'm pretty sure some upscale retailers will give NWI a try, especially considering Chicago's sales tax increase which will probably take place. Even if it doesn't, 6% is still better than 9%.

http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/200...5f000aa40c.txt

BY VANESSA RENDERMAN
vrenderman@nwitimes.com
219.933.3241

SCHERERVILLE | After months of residents asking which stores will open in a proposed Schererville lifestyle center called Shops on Main, a list of prospective tenants has been released.

Officials stressed that the list of nearly 100 stores and restaurants contains prospective tenants, not signed tenants.

It includes Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Urban Outfitters, Kirkland's, Sharper Image, American Girl, Banana Republic, H&M, Lenscrafters, Sunglass Hut and Hallmark.

Eighteen of those stores are on a second list, of which developers must sign 10 leases before the economic agreement process can begin. Those stores include Barnes and Noble, DSW, Ulta Cosmetics, J. Jill, Chico's and Coldwater Creek.

Developers of Shops on Main, which will be located on the east side of U.S. 41, just south of Main Street, have said they plan for an October groundbreaking. The site includes the Schererville Golf & Fun Center.

Rick Hackel, owner of the fun center, said the fun center's last day will be Oct. 7.

Town officials have worked with Shops on Main developers Regency Centers and Boyer Properties to hammer out an economic development agreement.

The agreement sets forth use of the tax increment financing district as an incentive to assist in financing the project, said Councilman Hal Slager.

"The reason the council went forward with that is because we believed it was desirable to change the type of retail we had in the area and it was necessary to get the ball rolling," he said.

The developer will buy his own bonds, and the bonds will be paid off by the tax revenue generated by their project only, Councilman Steve Kil said.

The economic development agreement does not take away any money from taxpayers.

"We keep the current money that's generated from the site," Kil said. "The additional tax revenue from the new lifestyle center will pay the debt."

Before the town initiates any bonding or debt procedure, the developer must provide the town with 10 signed leases, Kil said.

Conservative estimates show the town will issue between $12 million and $14.5 million in debt, about $9 million of which will go toward improvements to the site, including lane widening, intersection improvements and signalization, Kil said.

The bills incurred on the project will go to Schererville Town Manager Bob Volkmann, who will verify the money is being spent on the project, Kil said.

During the life of the bonds, the developer will donate $75,000 a year toward public safety. Also, the town requested that at least one Schererville police officer supplement security at the shopping center, Kil said.

The agreement is essential to having upscale shopping on the site instead of a big box store, he said.

"The primary motivation here was to eliminate the large box retail that the majority of the people seemed to not want," he said.

Bringing in upscale stores also will increase property values, Slager and Kil said.

Volkmann said he was a staunch opponent of public participation in the development, at first. Then he learned that it is a common economic tool. Because of the character of the architecture, such as fountains and paver walkways, lifestyle centers cost more to build than other retail shops that are basically four walls and a roof, he said.


Definitely a plus for NWI. I wish there were some renderings though. And they'll definitely have to do some expanding on that street, or something.

[hoosier]

I would love to see NW Indiana become a boomtown for development and commercial activity as a response to Chicago's higher taxes.

This is why I want to stay in Indiana. Low taxes and low cost of living compared to big cities like New York and Chicago.

Plus, the pay isn't much better in Chicago for accounting majors but the expenses are way higher.

[IndyYeah]

A good friend of mine owns a great independent cd store in downtown highland. That whole area is very busy.

[cityfan]

NW Indiana could become more like the Jersey to Chicago's New York. Although Jersey is very industrial there are many pockets of wealth and as a result there are high end retail centers, restaurants and hotels. I know NW Indiana will probably not become that extreme, but the fact that retailers like H&M, Pottery Barn, Urban Outfitters are looking at NWI shows its potential.

[IndyYeah]

Originally Posted by cityfan

NW Indiana could become more like the Jersey to Chicago's New York. Although Jersey is very industrial there are many pockets of wealth and as a result there are high end retail centers, restaurants and hotels. I know NW Indiana will probably not become that extreme, but the fact that retailers like H&M, Pottery Barn, Urban Outfitters are looking at NWI shows its potential.

Very good description. I say that all the time. Neighborhoods,and all. It is just an extension of the southside of Chicago. My ex-wife works in Whiting, most of that area has that Jersey neighborhood feeling. Alot of industry, oil refinery's some good small restaurants.

[mobyhead]

Originally Posted by Chicagoland312

Speaking of which, I don't know if any of you are familiar with the intersection of Main Street and Indianapolis Boulevard (U.S. 41), the dividing line between Highland and Schererville. Well, they're planning on building a "lifestyle center" there. With Briar Ridge, White Oak Estates, and Munster's upper-middle class, I'm pretty sure some upscale retailers will give NWI a try, especially considering Chicago's sales tax increase which will probably take place. Even if it doesn't, 6% is still better than 9%.

I know where that is. Very nice indeed.

[Unionstation13]

Gary has much peotential, its downtown would make a fantastic shopping area. The architecture in Gary would be a great addition to the area.

[cityfan]

West Lafayette to get $60M mixed-use project
Mon. October 08 - 2007

IBJ Staff

Atlanta-based Collegiate Ventures LLC plans to build a $60 million mixed-used project on 6.4 acres in West Lafayette.

The project would include 80 to 100 hotel rooms, 115 condos, and retail and office space.

Construction of Champion's Centre could begin in the spring and take up to 16 months to complete.

The project will be on Northwestern Avenue, about a half mile from Purdue University's Ross Ade Stadium. A Family Inns hotel will be demolished to make way for construction.

[mobyhead]

Realtors in NW Indiana commit against racism
Fri. October 12 - 2007


Associated Press
A group of real estate agents is taking a stand against racism in housing in northwestern Indiana at a time when discrimination complaints nationally are rising.

The action by the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors comes a year after complaints that one real estate agent had played on prejudices when she suggested to some Merrillville homeowners that they consider selling their homes by incorrectly saying the area might become part of Gary.

The group pledged Oct. 10 that its 2,800 members will provide equal opportunity to all persons in the sale or purchase of a home.

"We believe that diversity is a wellspring of strength, which is important to the future of northwest Indiana," said Thelma Nolan, the association's president.

The number of housing discrimination complaints nationwide logged by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rose 12 percent last year to 10,328, their highest level since the agency began tracking them in 1990.

The Realtors adopted a code on inclusiveness developed by the Race Relations Council of Northwest Indiana, which works to fight racism in the region.

Darren Washington, co-chairman of the council, said the two groups came together after a Lake County real estate agent last year distributed letters to homeowners in northern Merrillville suggesting they sell their properties because the city of Gary planned to annex their neighborhoods. Gary and Merrillville officials complained, the agent was fired and the state attorney general's office suspended her license.

The letter reminded some of a racially divisive period in the late 1960s and early 1970s that spurred the flight of white residents from Gary to Merrillville and other suburban communities.

Washington said real estate agents should treat every neighborhood in the region equally and not suggest some are safer or better than others. Some agents urge their clients to buy homes in suburban areas because they earn higher commissions, despite Gary having some high-end houses, he said.

"At a time when property taxes are a burden for businesses and homeowners in the cities of Gary, Hammond and East Chicago, the commitment to inclusiveness by the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors will be an asset to the development of all of our communities," Washington said.

http://www.ibj.com/html/detail_page.asp?content=05778

[araman0]

Originally Posted by cityfan

West Lafayette to get $60M mixed-use project
Mon. October 08 - 2007

IBJ Staff

Atlanta-based Collegiate Ventures LLC plans to build a $60 million mixed-used project on 6.4 acres in West Lafayette.

The project would include 80 to 100 hotel rooms, 115 condos, and retail and office space.

Construction of Champion's Centre could begin in the spring and take up to 16 months to complete.

The project will be on Northwestern Avenue, about a half mile from Purdue University's Ross Ade Stadium. A Family Inns hotel will be demolished to make way for construction.

I read about this on JConline.com. There was no mention of how big/urban a developement this would be, although I imagine it would have to be pretty significant to fit 200+ units and retail. There was also a mention of a rendering existing for this project, but I could not find it.

It's too bad this thing has to be so far from campus to easily walk back and forth from.

[Chicagoland312]

Wow, they're actually building two malls.... Oak Street Shops (or something) and Shops on Main. They'll be separated by the who omni skate center thing.

I just wonder how Indy Boulevard will handle the traffic. It's obvious they will have to widen to at least three lanes in each direction. I wonder if the malls are planning on "connecting". The malls are being built by two different builders, but it would be stupid to have to drive from one mall to the other (that portion of 41 does not have sidewalks).

Also, what kind of stores would you expect at the two malls? Shererville, Dyer, Munster, St. John, and the southern portion of Highland definately have some well to do folks around.

[IndyYeah]

Originally Posted by Chicagoland312

Wow, they're actually building two malls.... Oak Street Shops (or something) and Shops on Main. They'll be separated by the who omni skate center thing.

I just wonder how Indy Boulevard will handle the traffic. It's obvious they will have to widen to at least three lanes in each direction. I wonder if the malls are planning on "connecting". The malls are being built by two different builders, but it would be stupid to have to drive from one mall to the other (that portion of 41 does not have sidewalks).

Also, what kind of stores would you expect at the two malls? Shererville, Dyer, Munster, St. John, and the southern portion of Highland definately have some well to do folks around.

I was right by there yestereday as I went to the theater up by Rt.30, and that whole area will have to be widened. Especially the Illinois traffic that is going to be a mainstay for the area. Alot of Illinois traffic is there now as it is.