(Michigan City, IN) - A new site has been chosen for an offender recovery home planned in Michigan City due to extensive push back from people living close to the original location.
The former location across from the former St. Anthony Hospital on the city’s northwest side drew considerable opposition the past two years from nearby residents concerned about things like safety of a recovery home in a heavily residential area.
The new location is at Coolspring Ave. and Woodland Ave., an area close to Joy Elementary School with fewer residences and more professional office space nearby.
“We have what we believe is a good location,” said LaPorte Superior Court 4 Judge Greta Friedman, who’s directly involved with creating what would be the first recovery home anywhere in the county.
The plan is to build a two-story, 12,600 square foot facility with 16 beds.
Friedman said the recovery home would be a place for lower level LaPorte County Jail offenders recovering from substance abuse to live for up to two years after their release. She said the temptation to start using alcohol and drugs again might be too great for many offenders returning to the streets if they’re homeless or residences in their old neighborhoods.
Tonn & Blank Construction has pledged more than $200,000 worth of labor toward the projected $2.2 million cost of building the facility spearheaded by the La Porte County Drug Free Partnership organization. The LaPorte County Council and Health Foundation of LaPorte have each pledged $750,000 apiece toward the construction while Franciscan Health is committed to donating the land, said Jon Gilmore, President of Tonn & Blank Construction.
He said the goal is to raise the remainder of the funds and start construction in June of 2027.
Councilman Mark Yagelski suggested notifying property owners close to the new site in writing about the plans as soon as possible, something he felt could prevent another huge wave of opposition.
“There’s nothing wrong with having a little community input on this one,” he said.
