Valparaiso officials broke ground on two transformational downtown projects: The Linc and the Lincoln Highway Garage.
The ceremony Sept. 14 included leaders from HighGround, a subsidiary of Carmel-based Hageman, which developed The Linc.
The combined $54.4 million project will offer apartments and retail with parking to accommodate new residents and foot traffic.
“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 project also will include replacing aging underground and environmental infrastructure.
The Linc is a mixed-use development planned for the north side of Lincolnway between Michigan Avenue and Morgan Boulevard. It will include three four-story buildings with apartments on the top floors and commercial space on the ground floor facing Lincolnway.
“We are so impressed with Valpo’s downtown district,” said Tom Dickey, president of HighGround. “The community’s leadership and investment have made it one of the best downtowns in the state.”
Amenities will include a resident lounge, game room and kitchen, patios and grilling stations, pet park and washing station, fitness center and indoor bike storage.
Tonn and Blank Construction is constructing the Lincoln Highway Garage at the northeast corner of Lincolnway and Morgan Boulevard. It will house 362 spaces for parking.
The Linc also is supported by the Indiana Economic Development Commission and the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission. The IEDC awarded the project $9.6 million in redevelopment tax credits.
“As a state, Indiana is focused on cultivating vibrant communities that foster entrepreneurship, support families, and retain and attract top talent,” said Vincent Ash, vice president of real estate development at the IEDC. “Strategic tools like redevelopment tax credits are helping neighborhoods revitalize abandoned buildings and vacant properties with mixed-use projects like The Linc, breathing new life and economic development into our urban hubs.”
The garage should be complete by the end of 2024, and The Linc is scheduled to open by winter 2024.
HighGround was formed in 2021 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hageman. It has projects in Fishers, Lawrence, Plainfield and Noblesville, among others.
Caption: The city of Valparaiso and HighGround, a subsidiary of Hageman, held a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 14 for two transformational downtown projects. (Provided by the city of Valparaiso)
