(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City Council will now accept the state of indiana giving them the soon-to-be-closing State Prison, and its grounds, following a vote during Tuesday night's meeting.

 

Tuesday night, the council unanimously adopted a resolution in support of accepting the prison as a donation from the state once the prison closes in a few years. The more-than 150-year-old Indiana State Prison will relocate to the new Westville Correctional Facility once the ongoing construction of that penal facility is completed.

 

Recently, Governor Eric Holcomb at the request of Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch signed documents declaring intent to gift the well over century old state owned prison to the city. Deuitch said it’s going to cost an estimated $500 million to tear down and clean up the site. However, she told the council, the city will not be going into debt to pay for redeveloping the property and other sources of revenue will be sought.

 

“There is no debt the city plans on incurring for this property.  It’s really going to be partnership in working with governor-elect Braun’s administration on how we can secure funding after it closes,” she said.

 

U.S. Senator Mike Braun will become governor on January 1.

 

Deuitch also said what’s going to be a long process of putting the former prison grounds back to use includes not just demolition but determining how to reuse the site.

 

“This is not quick thing.  This is a decade long project,” she said.

 

Since the property is owned by the state, Deuitch said they don't receive property taxes for the land, but it will be a tax revenue producer for the city once it’s redeveloped. Speculation on future use includes possible work force housing construction.