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Jan
12
Best Of The Region
Filed Under ChristopherHedges.com
What are the best things about Northwest Indiana?
I’ll put out my nominations to spark the conversation and to get everyone thinking.
My best of the region list is:
1. Northwest Indiana’s proximity to Chicago without having all of the costs of living associated with life in Illinois. It’s great being next to an Alpha city that influences the world.
2. Lake Michigan. No one can look at the beauty of Lake Michigan and not be awed by it. From Chicago’s lakefront to the Indiana Dunes onward to Southern Michigan, it is great to be within a short drive of spectacular natural and man made beauty.
3. The people of Northwest Indiana. I can’t write about the greatness of Northwest Indiana without saying some of the best people can be found here.
This is just beginning. Comment with what makes NWI great.
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Location, Location, Location…I couldn’t agree more Chris. In addition to its proximity, the educational system is much better than many parts of the country. The vast amounts of higher educational systems are many, producing a wealth of future entrepreneurs.
People seem to more real in the Midwest…NWI has it’s fair share of uppide folks who think the size of their wallets mean something, but for the most part, people will say hello, take care of one another in need, interconnect with one another and if your on your front porch, will give you that good old fashion Hoosier wave!
Growth is wonderful, I think NWI could look at increasing it modernization of its infrastructure, but one of the unique flavors of NWI is it’s size, not too big & not so small that you’re disconnected from the rest of the world…perhaps this is a direct result of our location.
Finally, NWI has an enormous ethnic community. It’s refreshing and yet not well documented how much diversity there is right in our own back yards. The foods are just a testimony to the wonderful heritages that lurk just down the street of most of the city and towns of NWI.
Chris Sloans last blog post..The Business Behind The Big Game
I’m going to disagree a bit, not being a Region native. I don’t think the location, so far at least, is all that great. If you want to go to Chicago you have to drive through Gary on the way.
The shoreline is cluttered with the remains of 90 years of industrial destruction. Our jobs base is under another attack, the third straight decade … and we sport the highest taxes in the state.
Sorry to be negative, I guess what makes NW Indiana great to me is that it has potential to be a pretty awesome place. We could recover the shoreline. We could reduce taxes and throw the bums out. We could see Gary finally at long last turn the corner. But it will take immense leadership … I’m waiting.
Daltonsbriefss last blog post..Top 200 Conservatives in US on twitter
Hey Steve, no doubt there can be major improvements within NWI to make it better, but I guess Hedges asked what were the best of what NWI had to offer. Indy, Chicago, South Bend etc. all have issues…love to “move” Gary but until we see corruption wiped out within, it’s always going to be an eye sore. I’m not from this region originally, but have lived here for 20+ years and since that time the blown out windows in the former Holiday Inn in downtown Gary have NEVER been repaired, removed, or boarded up. That’s how fast business & government works in Gary…simple put, the city DOESN’T WORK. Just knock down the damn building and start over, at least it would create some business for someone and remove an eye sore.
Chris Sloans last blog post..The Business Behind The Big Game
Steve, I can’t speak for Porter county, but my analysis says that most of Lake County has the lowest taxes in Indiana when you take into account the COIT. See my latest blog postings.
Even though Porter has a COIT, it is one of the lowest in Indiana.
I happen to LIKE the heavy industry.
You can’t live in too many places and be employed as a steelworker or work in a refinery.
The heavy industry aspect of NWI, and the fact that the sites are still in business, makes NWI pretty unique.
NWI also has some interesting history. My favorite part of the paper is on Sunday when they tell you what was running in the paper 75 years ago. Very interesting stuff.
NWI has the best traffic in the Chicago area, for what its worth.
Buzzcuts last blog post..Does Lake County have an unfair tax advantage in Indiana?
Hi Chris,
I have to agree with you about NWI’s location. Being next to Chicago, but not in Illinois or Cook Co is a great benefit for the area. I also agree that NWI’s diversity is a strength. We can take the best from everyone who has left their mark on the community as well as enjoy all sorts of interesting festivals, foods and other activities that we might not be able to enjoy in a less diverse place.
Hi Steve,
Just think, in a few years (or decades) we’ll be able to bypass the industrial drive along the Borman or Indiana Toll Road and instead drive on the Illiana Expressway — that will solve the drive through Gary.
I’m optimistic about Gary. Things just need to be reconfigured there and its citizens need to take control of their government to prevent some of the wasteful spending that has filled the pages of the newspaper. Maybe with Gary losing population (and funds) some of the problems will end up being resolved, lest the city lose even more ground.
Hi Chris,
It’s too bad that the Sheraton / Holiday Inn has been allowed to decay along with many other buildings in Gary. I don’t have much confidence that that building will be any different in the next decade or two.
Here’s an interesting photo set featuring Gary’s Sheraton Hotel from Flickr. There’s also a site that has a photo of the Twelve Days of Sheraton, as well as more views from inside the abandoned ruins.
Hi Buzz,
I’m with you on the heavy industry. Driving along Cline north of the Borman is always fascinating with its views of the steel mills and height over the surrounding areas.
If industry gets tiresome, it’s a short drive to farm fields and greener pastures.
Oh my I started something here guys. Let me backtrack a bit.
I moved to NW Indiana in 1999 and had to convince my wife that people actually drive through Gary to get to Chicago. My property taxes on my $180,000 home were twice what they would have been in Indy. A permit to build a house was three times higher than Indy and some communities were complaining of needing more cash and wanting to levy “impact fees”
In Valparaiso the mayor for 20 years deferred maintenance and the roads and planning were a total mess. In Lake County the political situation landed a few people a year in jail.
Now, deep breath, Buzz I agree that the industry is interesting … I have enjoyed my tours of the facilities. I wish they weren’t right on the shoreline. Sloan, we’re a darn good location if you put in the Illiana and raise tolls so that the toll is only used by people willing to pay to be in a hurry. We could also sorely use an intermodal rail-road-water exchange.
I like the possibilities, and yes Buzz you’re right some of the taxes are lower if you disregard other fees. I remember commenting to SLoan years ago that NW Indiana has more parks per capita than anywhere else I’ve ever lived.
Daltonsbriefss last blog post..Recap First NW Indiana Blogger Meetup
I grew up in Aurora Illinois so getting to and through Chicago wasn’t that big of a deal…was pretty use to it and knew what to expect. I didn’t make my post college living there nor was I politically involved. Graduated and stayed in Valpo in 1985 and after awhile saw the real workings of an administration gone bad, that’s when I began to take notice. Steve & his family really introduced me to Indy. It is really a small/big city if your from Chicago. It’s a wonderful model for many of the issues that NWI should adopt…at the very least should look heavily into. I guess I took a more half glass approach to the original question. I’ve always enjoyed the South Bend area, regional airport is what Gary could be…Gary has too many hurdles to get this kind of airport moving. It might just be a better National Guard/cargo airport. This time next year we won’t see any more movement on this issue than today. I’ve always enjoyed being able to get to upper Michigan, Indy, Chicago or Aurora in a single day road trip…that I can handle. Getting to Chicago, Indy, Cleveland, Aurora and alike, you have to go through some pretty rough looking areas. Chicago’s inner city tax hike just put a damper on me wanting to even visit that city anymore. As a side bar, I’m sure there is a perfectly good explanation?…but when your using your IPass/IZoom in Illinois you don’t have to stop (I think this was the original idea), but when your using this in Portage you stop, wait for the toll gate to open, then pass through. Doesn’t this defeat the purpose? That’s frustrating but perhaps there is a good explanation. I’ve loved living here, I’ve met some great people, been involved in some great stuff. Guess we can always find some things to change…brick by brick!
Chris Sloans last blog post..Tony Dungy, A Class Act
Steve, if that was the situation in ‘99 (Valpo taxes were twice that of Indy), that has changed since then.
They’re a little less in Indy now (maybe 25% less), but that is more than made up for in the COIT. Indy is just stupid at 1.65%. Not to mention their food and beverage tax to pay for the new stadium.
Tax rates are not unreasonable, as long as you don’t live in North Lake County. And even there, I don’t think anybody actually pays those taxes, with all the exemptions and the cap.
Regarding the Lake, Gary would be a much different place if the city itself has Lake access, like Chicago does. So I understand where you are coming from there. But there’s always the Dunes. There are lots of places to access the Lake.
The BP refinery actually has a pretty awesome beach. You can get to it from Whiting park. Supposedly there is no tresspassing there, but there are often surfers there!
Buzzcuts last blog post..Does Lake County have an unfair tax advantage in Indiana?
One of these days, if the Marquette plan is approved and implemented, we should get some nice Lake Michigan access in Lake County. Gary does have a nice beach in Miller (Marquette Park).