The process will be organized to encourage the participation of all citizens, property owners, developers, business interests, government officials and activists. Through a series of design sessions and public meetings, the team will work with the public, the mayor’s office, the city planning department, relevant municipal and state agencies, MCNEAT and the Main Street Association, as well as various professional consultants to define creative but realistic proposals which can lead to implementation. Most significantly, the charrette seeks to engage all participants in a dialogue which can lead to good decisions and sound redevelopment in Michigan City’s North End.

Subsequent to the charrette, the design team will return to Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, in order to refine the proposals and generate a final document to be presented to the City around the end of 2007. The final document will include specific redevelopment proposals for various properties, illustrations for marketing purposes, codes and ordinances which can be adopted by the City to advance the proposed plans, as well as architectural guidelines.

Above all, the city and design team wish to invite the citizens, property owners and business interests of the North End to participate in the charrette and engage the process. The following important dates apply:

All public meetings and reviews are scheduled to be held in City Hall’s city council chamber.   Map and a link to directions can be found below on the Schedule of Upcoming Events link and you are invited to come and see the process first-hand during our daily studio hours (8.30am - 12.30pm |  1.30pm - 8.30pm)

Tuesday, September 18, 2007---------------------6:30pm           Opening Charrette Presentation

Wednesday, September 19, 2007-----------------6:30pm            Public Meeting: Retail + Zoning Issues

Thursday, September 20, 2007--------------------6:30pm           Design Review: MCNEAT + Main Street Association

Sunday, September 23, 2007-----------------------6:30pm            Mid-Charrette Public Design Review

Tuesday, September 25, 2007----------------------6:30pm           Final Charrette Presentation

More information about the project can be obtained by calling Andrew von Maur at (269) 471-6377 or by contacting Michigan City’s city planner John Pugh. More information about Andrews University’s School of Architecture can be found at www.arch.andrews.edu.

You are invited to come and see the process first-hand during our daily studio hours (8.30am - 12.30pm |  1.30pm - 8.30pm)

THE PROCESS