Michigan City, IN --- As Michigan City embarks on the process of writing a Westside and Wabash Neighborhoods Plan, it is asking its residents, business owners, students, seniors, and all other members of the community to join in a Neighborhood Visioning Workshop on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the H.O.P.E. Program Center (222 McClelland Ave.) to discuss and help create a new vision for the Westside/Wabash neighborhoods. Designed to be highly-interactive, engaging, and fun, the workshop will give residents the opportunity to help chart the course for the neighborhoods’ future. The workshop will begin at 5:30 pm and last approximately one and a half hours.

“For those who love the Westside and Wabash neighborhoods just as they are or for those who envision them becoming even better---this is your chance to come share your ideas, concerns, questions, and opinions,” said Mayor Chuck Oberlie. “We want to pack this meeting with as many minds as possible to ensure the future of the Westside/Wabash neighborhoods reflects the people who live, work, and do business here.”

The Community Visioning Workshop introduces the public to the planning process for the Westside and Wabash neighborhoods, which will culminate with the adoption of a long-term vision, architectural guidelines, vacancy and foreclosure policies, housing realignment framework, economic analysis, rebranding and marketing plan, urban design, streetscape, transportation, and sustainability standards. As the guide for the Westside and Wabash neighborhoods’ growth and development, the Neighborhood Plan will influence future decision-making on development, infrastructure, budgeting, and housing, among many other topics. Because of the importance of this document to so many facets of neighborhood life, public officials are urging neighborhood residents to come voice their opinions.

“We believe this will be an engaging and exciting night for those who come out to participate in this very important process,” said Judith Pinkston, Community Development Block Grant Director for Michigan City. “It’s important we plan ahead to update and replace our aging housing stock and deal with our current economic climate, and this Neighborhood Plan will be the tool we use to do that in a way that reflects the priorities of our residents and business owners. We need to know what they think so that the Plan best represents their vision for the Westside/Wabash Neighborhoods.”

The Neighborhood Visioning Workshop will include a brief presentation by the City’s planning consulting firm, McKenna Associates, to provide background on recent activity, changes, improvements, etc. within the neighborhoods. This will be followed by a series of interactive exercises and activities, including mapping and neighborhood budgeting exercises, designed to draw ideas and insights from members of the public.

Sarah Traxler, Community Development Director with McKenna Associates, will facilitate the Neighborhood Visioning Workshop. The all-ages workshop will be held in the gymnasium of the H.O.P.E. Program Center and refreshments will be provided. Participants need not call ahead of time, though questions may be addressed to (219) 873-1419 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please also check out the five minute Visual Preference Survey (VPS) posted on the plan’s Facebook page at: facebook.com/WestsideWabashNeighborhoods.

On a daily basis McKenna Associates provides community planning, landscape architecture, urban design, zoning, economic development, community relations, public participation, and municipal wireless services to more than 150 cities, counties, townships, villages and select private firms across the Midwest. McKenna’s success can be measured by its 33-year history of long-standing relationships with municipalities that value the creative spirit embodied by the firm’s team of professionals and its concept-driven approach to problem solving. Headquartered in Northville, Michigan; McKenna maintains branch offices in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Cleveland Heights, Ohio. For more information about McKenna Associates, call 888.226.4326 or visit www.mcka.com