On Thursday, the City of Valparaiso and HighGround developments, a subsidiary of Hageman, officially broke ground on one of the most expansive projects the downtown area has seen in many years. Located on the north side of Lincolnway between Michigan Avenue and Morgan Boulevard, the $54.4 million development will feature The Linc, a mixed-use apartment and retail complex, and the 362-space Lincoln Highway Garage constructed by Tonn and Blank.
The Linc will feature 121 apartments with floor plans ranging from studio up to two-bedroom, with amenities such as gourmet kitchens, in-unit washer and dryers, balconies overlooking downtown, courtyards, a fitness center, grilling stations, and more. Work on the Linc will also see updates to the area’s infrastructure like separating and replacing the aging stormwater and sanitary sewers.
“The Linc turns the lights on for this part of downtown, extending the success story that is Valparaiso’s downtown,” said Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy in a press release. “We are eager to welcome new residents, new businesses, and new opportunities to downtown. Together, we continue to create a downtown that defines our community.”
The Linc includes three separate four-story buildings, with apartments occupying the top floors, while commercial suites fill the ground floor. Each building, along with Highway Garage, is designed to complement Valparaiso’s architecture – to add, rather than disrupt.
“We feel like there was already a puzzle being put together, and we’re just a piece of it,” said Tom Dickey, president of HighGround. “When I first got here, having not been here in probably 20 years, I was so taken by the vibrancy of downtown. You can meet in front of the courthouse and walk to a dozen different restaurants. That’s not happening in other communities in Indiana as a whole.”
Parts of the land the project occupies, which includes the space formerly occupied by the iconic Round the Clock, is jointly owned by the City of Valparaiso and HighGround. Support from the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission and Indiana Economic Development Commission (IEDC) helped make it possible.
“I don’t think we’ve seen a project of this scale in our downtown’s history,” said George Douglas, director of development for the City of Valparaiso. “It’s a major undertaking, and I think it’s going to be very transformative. This is making downtown Valparaiso sustainable and vibrant. This is the result of a game plan that’s been playing out for decades.”
Dickey praised Valparaiso’s commitment to that game plan and bringing their vision for the community to life.
“They’re not a ‘yes’ community, they want things done right and they have things that they don’t compromise on,” he said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’re plugging into something that was already here. I think it’s transformative in the sense that it’s going to add a lot of people, but it’s not transforming this community, it was already here. We’re just adding on to, hopefully, make it even better.”
The Linc is set to open in the winter of 2024, and the Lincoln Highway Garage targets the end of 2024. Interested residential or business tenants can visit TheLincValpo.com to learn more and join the interest list. For more information on the City of Valparaiso, visit valpo.us.
The Linc is additionally supported and endorsed by the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation (VEDC). For more information, visit valpoedc.com.
