Turns out, the Town of Chesterton has the largest “livable center” in all of
Porter County. And right now, the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning
Commission has $400,000 in funding to award for the enhancement and
protection of livable centers.
Who knew, right?
At the Chesterton Redevelopment Commission’s meeting Monday night, Member
Jim Ton wanted to know whether his colleagues might be interested in
pursuing that funding, to maintain the town’s own “livable center,” a term
used by planners and consultants to mean an area in which residents can
accomplish most of their daily tasks with-out driving. In livable centers
parks, the public library, schools, businesses, and emergency-response
agencies are all clustered, meaning that folks can bike or walk to most
places they have to go.
NIRPC funding could be used for things like sidewalks and trails, Ton said.
“I think it’s a refreshing thing.”
In addition to Chesterton’s main “livable center”--according to a NIRPC map,
the largest such area in Porter County--it also features two “neighborhood
centers.” Said Ton, “That speaks well of the Town of Chesterton, that we’ve
been maintaining the Downtown.”
Ton added, of “livable centers,” “It’s a new direction that planners are
trying to go.”
Or as Member Sharon Darnell put it, “Everything old is new again.”
“Anything we could to improve the Downtown, I’m in favor of,” Member Jeff
Trout for his own part said.
IBR Traffic Signal
In other business, Town Engineer Mark O’Dell announced that the contract for
the upgrade of the traffic signal at the intersection at Indian Boundary
Road and North Calumet Road will be let in spring by the Indiana Department
of Transportation.
At the moment NIRPC is paying for 70 percent of the project, or $223,578,
with the additional $108,387 coming from tax increment financing moneys. But
O’Dell is hopeful that what was supposed to be an 80/20 grant, as announced
when awarded, will more nearly approach that apportionment.
Members voted 5-0 to enter into a contract with NIRPC for the project.
The project will include a new signal with battery backup, decorative pole,
and new striping at the intersection. The signal’s current timing will not
be changed. The town is still waiting for the CSX railroad to approve the
project.
“It’s moving forward,” O’Dell said.
Claims
Members voted 5-0 to approve the following claims: $40,191.95 from LGS
Plumbing Inc. of Crown Point; $6,290 and $6,526.25 from DLZ; $1,044.72 from
1st American Management Company; $708.28 from Midwestern Electric Inc.; $750
from Harris Welsh & Lukmann; $300 from U.S. Bank; and $75 from Ellis
Electric.