Community members had the opportunity to offer input and ideas for the reimagining of the Indiana State Prison site during an interactive event Jan. 22 at the H.O.P.E. Community Center.
The Economic Development Corporation Michigan City and Farr Associates team members as well as city leaders outlined the early stages of the process while collecting input from the public. Stations set the stage to gather thoughts on land use, connectivity, economic development and design.
“While we will not have all the answers to all of your questions, tonight is about exploring the possibilities, and we want to hear what you reimagine for the site in a creative and open format,” said EDCMC Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse. “We want to ask all of the right questions as it is a long journey.”
“We are focused on reimagination, not redevelopment,” said EDCMC Community Development Manager Erin Meisner. “This is your opportunity: If you had a magic wand, what is the most important thing to you?”
The meeting is one component of the process to create a master plan and design as part of the ISP Reimagination Strategy after it was announced by the Indiana Department of Correction that the prison would close upon completion of a new 4,200 bed facility on the Westville Correctional Facility campus. The new prison will replace both facilities.
A combination of industry leaders was approved to take the lead, which includes not only Farr Associates, but also Terra Engineering, McKenna, Zimmerman-Volk Associates and Sam Schwartz. Key tasks include: analyzing assets and opportunities, design alternatives for the vacant site, transportation analysis and recommendations, site utilization analysis and recommendations, financial analysis and recommendations, public and stakeholder engagement and delivery of a final strategy playbook.
“This odyssey started with READI 1.0 funding to identity projects that are beneficial for our community,” said Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch. “The prison study made the cut, and now we have the opportunity to reimagine the site.
“The Vibrant Michigan City playbook is a major part of this. Community members who were born and raised on the West Side have a vested interest and have been able to participate in the vision - This has been important to me to have that as part of the process.”
Farr Associates and other team members will organize and catalogue the public’s input as part of the research part of the process. There will be another public input session later in 2025.
The public can still offer input online: https://vibrantmc.com/indiana-state-prison-redevelopment-project.
“We are designers, and we have no idea what to draw at this point. We are here to listen. We don’t have a plan, and we are eager to hear what you have to say,” said Doug Farr, FAIA, LEED AP, CNU-A, Founder, Farr Associates Architecture & Urban Design. “Oftentimes, the best part of plans come from meetings like this.”
In December 2024, former Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a letter of intent along with Nelson Deuitch to indicate the state will transfer ownership of the Indiana State Prison site to the City of Michigan by Jan. 1, 2029.
The EDCMC was awarded READI 1.0 funds to study the reuse of the site during the first round of funding from the state. The Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative program is funding initiatives and projects throughout the state to impact Hoosiers’ quality of life.
Launched by former Gov. Holcomb and led by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), READI encourages regional collaboration and data-driven, long-term planning that will attract and retain talent in Indiana. The $500 million READI fund was passed by legislation during the 2021 session and was divided among 17 regions.
Through READI, 17 regions across the state that represent all 92 counties are moving forward with projects and programs designed to enhance Indiana’s regions for current and future generations of Hoosiers. Collectively, the state’s $500 million investment is expected to yield an additional $9.86 billion public, private and nonprofit dollars invested (19.72:1 investment leverage ratio) in enhancing Indiana’s quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity.