By KEVIN NEVERS

The South Calumet Business District Stakeholders Committee reached an early consensus at its first meeting on Tuesday: pedestrian safety and access must be a priority in the final design of the streetscape and open spaces envisioned for the district, formerly known as the South Calumet Triangle.

Stakeholders also expressed enthusiasm, once the idea sunk in, over the creation of a public art garden–or some other amenity–at the site of the present tented farmer’s market at the apex of the Triangle, where South Calumet Road and C.R. 100E intersect.

The committee is comprised of five citizen members: Linda Klaiber, owner of Books Alive at 209. W. Indiana Ave.; Elizabeth Zube, a resident of the South Point subdivision on Beverly Drive off C.R. 100E; Dean Biddle, president of Dean’s Tire & Automotive at 1603 S. Calumet; Laura Pannekoek, a member of the Duneland Historical Society; and Judy Chaplin, owner of Shady Lawn Florist at 726 S. Calumet.

Also sitting on the committee are Chesterton Redevelopment Commission President Sharon Darnell and Member Josh Lantz. The commission, tasked with the administration of the town’s tax increment financing district, is likely to use at least some TIF funds to finance traffic improvements, stormwater upgrades, and streetscaping in what will be a thorough facelift of the South Calumet Business District.

Tuesday’s meeting was facilitated by Mike Jabo and Craig Hudson of DLZ, the commission’s contracted engineering consultant, and took as its starting point the preliminary streetscape and open space design presented to the Redevelopment Commission at its February meeting.

That design identifies six basic elements:

•The “gateway” into the Downtown, Chesterton High School, and Coffee Creek Center at the intersection of C.R. 1100N and C.R. 100E.

•The “focal element” at the intersection of Ind. 49 and C.R. 1100N, meant to be understood by motorists as a landmark or point of destination.

•Monument signage featuring the names of businesses in the district to guide motorists.

•A public art garden, potentially a destination for residents and visitors, at the apex of the Triangle.

•A rain garden constructed as part of the larger stormwater drainage system.

•And such streetscape components as sidewalks, benches, decorative lighting, bike racks, and landscaping.

Discussion

Hudson opened the meeting with a rundown of those six elements, then opened the floor to discussion.

Chaplin immediately raised the issue of safety. Sidewalks and bike paths will be vital, she said, to moving kids through the district and to any of the three main destinations to which it opens: the Downtown, CHS, and Coffee Creek Center. “It really is unsafe now,” she said. “Since we’re doing this, we ought to do this right.”

Zube concurred. At the moment residents of South Point who might like to walk or bike are essentially “trapped” in the subdivision by the heavy traffic in the district. “Safety and accessibility are my biggest concerns.”

Any number of streetscape elements could be incorporated, Hudson said, to “calm” traffic, that is, to signal to motorists that they are entering an area where they can expect pedestrians and bicyclists. Those include brick pavers, roadway striping, even trees. And the preliminary design does provide for a sidewalk–possibly curvilinear and wide enough for walkers and peddlers–to run along the west side of C.R. 100E, Hudson added. Eventually that sidewalk will connect to the Westchester-Liberty Trail being planned to run the length of C.R. 1100 from Dogwood Park to CHS and then to the Tamarack subdivision, from where it will provide access to Coffee Creek Center via Rail Road.

Will the intersection at C.R. 100E and Beverly Drive be signalized? Biddle wondered.

No, not immediately, Town Engineer Mark O’Dell said. It will be wired for a traffic signal but it isn’t expected that the warrant will exist justifying the installation and activation of a signal for some time.

Members had a few thoughts too about the focal point at the intersection of Ind. 49 and C.R. 1100. Possibly, Lantz said, a wrought iron fence could be installed there identical to the one installed by the Chesterton Hometown Improvement Committee at the intersection of Ind. 49 and Porter Ave. Such a fence would provide a sort of thematic continuity, he said. “I think we do need to help people identify entries into the community.”

Possibly too, Lantz added, the existing Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce sign located some distance to the south of that intersection could be relocated and redesigned, incorporating the generally accepted Town of Chesterton municipal logo: an image of the bandstand in Thomas Centennial Park. “There’s no need to reinvent the wheel,” he said.

About that Chamber sign, Pannekoek said, perhaps the whole collection of signage located here and there in town–celebrating CHS debate, gymnastic, and other championships, as well as identifying Chesterton as a Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions community–could be tastefully combined into a single sign.

What about the overhead utility wires? Biddle asked.

Ah, yes, those wires, O’Dell replied. There would be a “huge cost” involved in burying them, ugly though they are. Town Planning Director Steve Yagelski suggested that maybe they could be “disguised” somehow.

Conversation moved finally to the idea of a public art garden at the apex of the Triangle, which members liked a lot, although Hudson did remind them that if it were meant to be a place actually to be visited, rather than a static exhibit, accommodations would have to be designed and constructed for access and parking.

Biddle suggested bringing in local artists to populate the space.

Zube suggested bringing in CHS art students.

Lantz agreed that it would be a shame to remove the farmer’s market currently operating there in season and simply leave the open space empty. Make it a “multi-use area,” he said.

Zube noted that it would be a great place to visit while waiting for repairs at Biddle’s business. “Maybe just a little park with plaques about the history of the town,” she said.

Whatever it becomes, Klaiber advised, it needs to be well conceived. “We’re formulating a beautiful area that’s going to be left for our children,” she said. “It has to facilitate tourists but be hard enough to withstand children and their rambunctious natures.”

Meanwhile, Jabo and O’Dell answered a few technical questions from the committee.

•Construction will be phased over two seasons, beginning presumably next spring and completed in 2009, with streetscape and open space the final components to be designed and implemented. •Estimated construction costs, $2.5 to $3 million, with around $400,000 earmarked by the Redevelopment Commission for streetscaping and open space.

•Driveway access for businesses has not been finalized yet. Right-of-way not only for traffic improvements but for streetscape features like a sidewalk will have to be purchased from current landowners.

Homework

Before the next meeting–scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 25–members were advised by Jabo to drive, perhaps even walk, the district, to get a sense of its scale. In particular he called their attention to the “super-elevation” of C.R. 1100N as it rises to meet Ind. 49. “Put that in your perspective,” he said.

Hudson said that he will be looking for more specific ideas from members at the next meeting, and urged them to feel free to prepare sketches or drawings.

Posted 9/12/2007