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Council approves Triand Meadow housing TIF resolution enabling developer‑backed bond for infrastructure
Summary
The Michigan City Common Council adopted a resolution allowing the redevelopment commission to proceed with a housing tax-increment financing plan for the Triand Meadow area and advanced an ordinance proposing developer-backed taxable economic development bonds; the resolution passed 8-0.
The Michigan City Common Council voted 8-0 on May 6, 2025, to adopt a resolution authorizing next steps for a housing tax-increment financing (TIF) plan tied to the Triand Meadow economic development area and to enable the redevelopment commission and plan commission to proceed with related actions.
Councilman Terry Dabney, sponsor of the resolution, told the council the housing TIF is designed to fund infrastructure needs for the development. Skyler York, director of redevelopment, explained at the meeting that the financing mechanism being pursued is a developer‑backed bond and emphasized it would not be a city‑backed general obligation bond.
Public commenters and council members described the plan as a tool to deliver attainable housing and infrastructure without tapping the city’s general fund. Scott Mellon, a resident who said he had followed the project through planning and redevelopment meetings, told the council: “This is a developer backed bond that allows him to build the infrastructure…at no risk to the citizens of Michigan City or the general fund.” Mellon said the project would leverage private investment and provide units targeted to workforce housing income guidelines.
Council members added context. Councilwoman Moldenhauer called the development “attainable housing,” noting it targets workers who commute into Michigan City. Councilman Dabney said the developer committed that 75% of the planned units would meet workforce‑housing income guidelines.
The council recorded a motion to adopt the resolution, moved by Dr. Kaur and seconded by Councilman Nelson; the motion carried 8-0. The meeting also included a first reading of an ordinance to authorize issuance of taxable economic-development tax increment revenue bonds relating to projects in the Triand Meadow area; sponsors said that ordinance would be carried to the council’s next meeting for further review.
No city general fund dollars were pledged during the vote; redevelopment staff and council members described the bond as developer-backed and not a pledge of the city’s bonding capacity or general fund. The redevelopment director said further approvals and steps will follow at subsequent meetings, including detail on bonding authority and project terms.
