The Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission (RDC) announced LiveWorkLearnPlay Inc. (LWLP) will assist in facilitating long-term development as well as implementation towards a sustainable economic environment and identity of the town.
The RDC’s five voting members showed their unanimous support to name LWLP as Master Development and Revitalization Advisor at a special public meeting last Thursday evening.
“LiveWorkLearnPlay immediately connected with our commission on an emotional level,” RDC President Greg Miller said. “This incredibly prestigious firm produces the creativity to think outside the box, while their proven international successes demonstrate a broadened view of the world and ultimately what our town could be one day.”
RDC Vice President Brad Enslen added, “LiveWorkLearnPlay’s leaders showed a vested interest in our community from the start, going out of their way to personally get to know our town and residents through multiple visits. This people-first approach will prove to be an asset to our region as it has already in neighborhoods close to home.”
With more than 80 years of combined experience in nine countries, LWLP is recognized as a world leader in creating the heart of communities. A real-estate development and advisory firm, LWLP focuses on envisioning, planning and implementing large-scale mixed-use communities. Regional and statewide experiences include: the City of Rockford, Illinois; University of Chicago, Hyde Park; Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; and Indiana University, Bloomington. Most notably, LWLP worked to reposition Saxony Village, an essential part of the 750-acre mixed-use Saxony community development straddling Fishers and Noblesville in Hamilton County, into a regional destination with a mix of waterfront, housing, office space, retail, entertainment, health care and education.
Max Reim, co-managing partner and principal with LWLP, will serve as the RDC’s project advisor. “We feel strongly that Burns Harbor is in a position to achieve many of its identified goals, and has the opportunity to grow into a more vibrant, iconic and economically thriving place,” Reim said. “We are confident that, together, we can transform Burns Harbor into America’s next great small destination town.”
LWLP’s Kiran Marok, director and project lead, and Rob Spanier, partner and principal, were also present at a RDC executive session interview Feb. 6.
During phased development of Burns Harbor, LWLP initially will work with RDC members and staff on a detailed market assessment with area stakeholders. The four- to five-month process will further the town’s comprehensive and sub-area plans into action by testing possible projects and initiatives.
Reim said, “LiveWorkLearnPlay wants to be a part of the future vision of Burns Harbor in creating a lasting legacy of this town. We provide much more than drawings, plans or reports. We will work with Burns Harbor to get things done feasibly and creatively.”
The decision to partner with LWLP resulted from an extensive six-month request for qualifications and evaluation process. Last fall, the RDC received 11 submissions from firms interested in providing assessment and strategic guidance for the development of land and programs. Three firms were awarded interviews earlier this month based on assessment of portfolios, previous experiences, success stories in comparable local and regional areas and preliminary ideas for implementing future development.
“Change cannot occur overnight, and action cannot be implemented by one person or organization,” Miller said. “We realized, in order to be most successful for the future of Burns Harbor and Burns Harbor’s place in Northwest Indiana, we must bring together the right people with the right skills and experience to get the job done. LiveWorkLearnPlay is the right step in that direction.”