No. 2456 expanding the boundaries of the Airport Economic Development Area, expanding the allocation area for purposes of tax increment financing and amending the Airport Economic Development Area Development Plan (Portage Prairie)

Home Browse Search

• Develop an attractive and economically viable entrance to the Central • Business District on South Michigan Street. • Improve the physical environment of the sub-area through clean-up of vacant lots, removal of dead trees and brush, and public improvements to streets, curbs, sidewalks and lighting. • Where necessary, improve appearance of existing buildings in the sub-area through building rehabilitation and clean-up of former industrial sites. This could include removal of old conveyor systems, former accessory structures and materials stored outside. • Provide adequate road access to new development. This may require construction of a new road system within the northern section of the main plant complex or in the area of the former Studebaker foundry. C. RUM VILLAGE INDUSTRIAL PARK The Rum Village Industrial Park is an area of 412 acres that is primarily zoned "E -Heavy Industrial." (See Map 9.) This is an area of great development potential, but it also has several substantial barriers to private sector development. The area has been zoned "E" -Heavy Industrial for many years. However, industrial development has been very sporadic with little private investment for long periods of time. Lack of roadway access and utilities coupled with unstable soil conditions has deterred normal development and occupancy of land that otherwise is situated in an excellent location for industrial development. Transforming development potential into reality will require substantial public involvement and investment. The strengths of this sub-area include the transportation network, large site possibilities, and major infrastructure adjacent to the development area. With the extension of the U.S. 31 Expressway to the Indiana Toll Road (and farther into Michigan) and the extension eastward into Elkhart County, the opportunity for industrial expansion has been given a strong push. The Rum Village Industrial Park is situated along the U.S. 31 Expressway and permits ready access to markets in all directions. In addition, the sub- area is served by several rail lines and offers an opportunity for heavy industrial users or users needing access to rail service. This area is one of the few sites remaining within the community that would allow such rail access and heavy industrial development and processes. The Rum Village Industrial Park is similar to the Studebaker Corridor in that one major physical impediment exists that prevents the private sector from developing this sub-area. In the Studebaker Corridor, the impediment is man-made the large, obsolete , 10 i