Station Area Summary

Introduction

The Ridge Road TDD is situated in a stable and highly walkable neighborhood with its historic commercial businesses along Ridge Road between the Indiana- Illinois State Line and Calumet Avenue. This station includes a modest parking area and is thought of mostly as a “kiss and ride” station. The town has been proactive in preparing for this station to be built and forthcoming investment, which sends a positive message to the development community. The town has completed a recent character-based zoning code (Town and Planning Design Collaborative) that provides appropriate TOD zoning. The town is also working on a complete streets project to improve the walkability and sense of place of along Ridge Road and Calumet Avenue.

TDD Boundary Summary

The resulting TDD boundary for the Munster Ridge Road station area focuses on three future investment strategies: Corridor, Neighborhoods, and Mixed-Use Town Center. The major commercial corridors of Ridge Road and Calumet Avenue present opportunities for strengthening the commercial environment around the station. The Monon Trail is a strong asset as a recreational corridor along the future West Lake Corridor. Because the station area is immediately adjacent to existing single-family neighborhoods, development should incorporate appropriately-scaled residential opportunities from the higher density adjacent to the proposed station to lower density that blends in with the neighborhood fabric. Mixed-use development could be concentrated where the rail line intersects with the Ridge Road that will support higher levels of activity associated with the station.

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Boundary Strategy

The process of developing the Ridge Road TDD boundary analyzed several existing characteristics of the station area. This analysis produced a step-by-step compilation of existing characteristics that illustrated a deeper understanding of the opportunities within the potential TDD boundary.

Due Diligence

The analysis required for creating the boundary focused on floodplains and flood zones; land use patterns, including community anchors (destinations such as schools, parks, city halls, churches, etc.), commercial areas and corridors, residential neighborhoods near these places of activity, agricultural or preserved land, industrial land, and vacant or underutilized and publicly-owned land; TIF Districts and Opportunity Zone boundaries; and previous planned areas or other areas of interest identified by the town. Locating land uses and destinations in the station area provides a sense of where generators of economic activity, community gathering, and employment opportunities currently exist in the community. Locating vacant or underutilized and publicly-owned land and other areas of interest helps identify sites that may have a low barrier to redevelopment or have already been considered for redevelopment by the town and suggest where future development and investment could occur.

Land Use

Existing land use patterns can inform opportunities for future investment that is compatible and complementary for the community. Major community anchors for the Munster Ridge Road station area included the Lansing Country Club, Town Hall, Munster Christian Church, the Monon Trail, and the Pennsy Greenway. Ridge Road and Calumet Avenue were identified as important commercial corridors, with the Calumet Center as a commercial node or destination. Clusters of residential areas exist along the Monon Trail to the south of Ridge Road and directly adjacent to the proposed station.

Vacant, Underutilized, and Publicly-Owned Land

There is little available vacant or underutilized land in the station area. The Town of Munster currently owns land adjacent to the station area, as well as the public works facility at Fisher Street and Town Hall on Ridge Road.

Town Plans and Areas of Interest

Previously planned areas include a re-envisioned Town Hall Square including Town Hall and the Calumet Avenue/Ridge Road intersection, the Lake Business Center redevelopment that includes the Public Works site, and the Lansing Country Club. Areas of interest identified by the town include a portion of Calumet Avenue, including Calumet Center, and a few sites around the proposed station.