Commission reviews demographic data and considers updates to preservation guidelines and site-visit policy

Michigan City staff presented a demographic analysis at the Feb. 2 meeting showing that the city’s historic-district block groups have higher shares of minority and low-income residents than LaPorte County as a whole. Using American Community Survey estimates (2019–2023), staff reported that Michigan City’s minority population is roughly 40% versus a LaPorte County average of 23%, and that the two block groups covering the historic districts were about 38% and 42% minority. Staff also reported that low-income rates in those block groups exceeded the county average (county ~14%; block groups ~44% and ~31%).

Staff said the block groups meet federal screening thresholds that flag higher vulnerability to policy and construction impacts and recommended more inclusive engagement and mitigation when the commission considers actions that could disproportionately affect those populations.

Separately, commissioners discussed an ad hoc effort to scrub and update the city’s preservation design guidelines (fix broken links, clarify alternative materials, and move some technical items to appendices). Several commissioners volunteered or offered to help and staff will propose a timeline and initial changes. Chair and attorney recommended discontinuing interior site visits for safety and jurisdictional reasons; the commission agreed and asked staff to implement that policy change.

Commissioners asked staff to collect prior COAs referenced during other agenda items to ensure consistent precedent and to include demographic context in future outreach.