Residents urge cleanup, fence removal and public art pads during Redevelopment Commission public comment

Residents at the March 9 Michigan City Redevelopment Commission meeting urged the commission to address maintenance and to move forward on redevelopment of a former solar property.

Tommy Kolovic of 1316 Ohio Street told the commission he was pleased to see banners removed but urged removal of chain-link fencing at the former solar parcel and better maintenance of vegetation and medians, citing a dead tree on commission property and damaged fencing along Meyer Drive. "These little nitpicky things, they add up to be big things," Kolovic said, and asked that the commission coordinate removal and mowing.

Scott Mellon echoed the request to remove the fence and asked whether staff had issued a new RFP after a previous agreement failed three months earlier. Mellon also proposed that the commission consider asking developers to provide a concrete pad or easement for future public-art installations as part of new development, so the city can place artwork more easily. "All I would suggest… is can we ask the developers of these various things to place a concrete pad for an art installation to follow," Mellon said.

Chair and staff acknowledged the comments and indicated staff would follow up on fence removal, signage and right-of-way maintenance as part of routine property and project management.

What’s next
Staff was asked to follow up on the status of the former solar property, fence removal and maintenance requests and to report back to the commission.