MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Flaherty & Collins Properties, alongside Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch and community leaders, gathered to turn a shovel on The Franklin at 11th Street Station during the ground-breaking event.
The event marks the next step for the state’s only mixed-use high rise TOD development that encompasses the train station for the South Shore’s Double Track, apartments, parking, and retail and commercial space.
“This represents a major step in improving access to public transit and bolstering our local economy. It allows the city an opportunity to grow, not only on the north end but also in Midtown and throughout the city,” said Mayor Nelson Deuitch.
The $101 million development, which will encompass 1.5 acres of land located at the corner of 11th and Franklin streets, will provide 220 market-rate apartment residences and 5,600 square feet of commercial space. Additional features include parking and easy access to transit for residents and visitors, granting them convenient and swift connections to Chicago.
“As Indiana looks to the future of mobility, we must continue to invest in existing infrastructure,” said Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Chief of Staff Vincent Ash. “Indiana’s infrastructure is already some of the best and most robust in the nation, and the double-tracking of the South Shore Line will only strengthen one of our greatest assets while also revitalizing and bringing new investment along the route. I am looking forward to the impact of this transit-oriented-development housing project and the many more that will improve the quality of place and quality of life for Hoosiers in northwest Indiana.”
Nelson Deuitch said the project has been a labor of love that has shifted from an initial plan for just a parking garage.
“We took a risk switching gears. Having a premier development was important to us and not just a parking garage. I don’t think people realize the risk and hits we took, but we stood strong about what we wanted,” she said. “It is truly an honor to be here today. We are embarking on something special and because of this groundbreaking other investments are happening here in the city. Michigan City is going through a Renaissance period and it is going to be like no other.”
Flaherty & Collins CEO David Flaherty spoke to the importance of a lively and connected urban core for northwest Indiana.
“Once completed, The Franklin at 11th Street Station will fully establish upscale living with Lake Michigan views,” said Flaherty. “That, paired with the ease in access to Chicago, will allow for residents to discover a new way of life with endless opportunities just a train ride away.”
Various layouts for the 12-story multi-family apartments include studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom floorplans. Features and amenities for the apartment communities include 549 parking garage spaces for residents, visitors and commuters, a heated swim spa with an adjacent outdoor movie space. Residents can also enjoy a co-working style café, conference facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness center and an indoor/ outdoor rooftop sky lounge with Lake Michigan views.
“We strive to offer connectivity for our residents and those throughout the region, and The Franklin will help us do just that. We want to become the hub of the region when it comes to providing a place for our residents and visitors to live, work and play,” Mayor Nelson Deuitch added.
Flaherty & Collins Properties expects to welcome the first residential and commercial tenants for the development by fall of 2025.
For more information on Flaherty & Collins Properties, contact 317.816.9300 or visit www.flco.com. For more information on The Franklin at 11th Street Station, contact Nina Settappa at nsettappa@flco.com.