With the news of the state’s rescinding of the Letter of Intent regarding the Indiana State Prison property, our Mayor and EDCMC Executive Director have issued the following statements to share with our community members:

“The State of Indiana has informed our administration that the December 2024 Letter of Intent to transfer the Indiana State Prison property to the City of Michigan City has been rescinded due to changing circumstances at the state level. While this is not the direction we had been anticipating, our team is working to process and pivot based on this latest development.
“We are continuing conversations with the state today and tomorrow as the future of this property reaches a crossroads. No final path has been determined, and our city remains committed to advocating for outcomes that benefit our residents.
It is important to emphasize that this update has not altered our original vision or ambition to reimagine the site for future development. We see this as a bump in the road, not an obstruction. The reimagination study we launched in early 2025 will continue, ensuring that Michigan City has a thoughtful, research-based strategy ready when decisions about the property move forward.
“As this process unfolds, we will keep the public informed of new developments. Our leadership team remains focused on maintaining the momentum we are building across Michigan City. We are moving forward with optimism, planning, and determination.”
– Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch

“The state’s rescinding of the Letter of Intent is a disappointing detour in the trajectory of the Indiana State Prison’s direction toward redevelopment and revitalization. While the certainty of the prison’s purpose and pathway is uncertain at this time, our city and community leaders remain steadfast to staying on track with where we want the West Side of Michigan City to soar.
“The reimagination of the prison is vital to the synergy and energy of development that we envision for our community members within the prison’s shadow and beyond. Our mission to bolster the neighborhoods on the West, East and Midtown areas of our city persists even in the veil of vagueness that now surrounds the prison’s future. The community deserves and demands it!
“Our team has seen a strong sense of community spirit and unification since we launched the reimagination study, and we will not stymie this passion and sentiment with a pessimistic perspective on the prospects of the prison’s future status.
“Today, the reimagination study has a place of even stronger importance to our vision of the city’s future. The change in course has solidified our stance on exploring what the site can be: a place for prosperity with community offerings and development, a spot for small business growth and most importantly, a beacon for promise, optimism and aspirations.”
– Economic Development Corporation Michigan City Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse