(Michigan City, IN) - They’re calling it a “reimagining.”

 

Civic leaders in Michigan City are eager to redevelop the old State Prison site, and they are inviting the public to offer input.

 

A public meeting will take place Wednesday, January 22 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the H.O.P.E. Community Center at 222 McClelland Ave. to discuss possibilities for the site. The meeting will outline the process for redeveloping the site and provide the opportunity for input from residents on design, connectivity, economic development, community, and land use.

 

“Giving community members a voice is vital to this extensive process and the future of the site,” said Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch. “We are at the initial stages of discussing what this can mean for our city.”

 

“This public meeting is just one essential component of the reimagining and transformation,” added EDCMC Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse. “We have an advisory council comprised of community leaders as well as our team of experts to take on the analysis, planning, design and development of a master plan.”

 

Questions can be submitted before the meeting on the developing website page for the project: https://vibrantmc.com/indiana-state-prison-redevelopment-project.

 

Last December the state announced that it intends to transfer ownership of the Indiana State Prison site to the City of Michigan by Jan. 1, 2029. Soon after, a group of industry leaders was selected to develop a master plan and design as part of the ISP Redevelopment Strategy. Farr Associates, Terra Engineering, McKenna, Zimmerman-Volk Associates and Sam Schwartz are bringing a combined level of expertise to analyze, develop, plan, design and present recommendations for the property.

 

The “reimagining” phase is expected to last through the fall of 2025. The old prison won’t be vacated until the new 4,200-bed facility is completed.