Among with Indiana Dunes
A lifetime Chicago resident, developer Tom Moss had the idea from creating an old-style lakefront resort after visiting Seaside. The pedestrian-based Florida Panhandle town launched for neotraditional neighborhood movement in the early 1980’s. Beachwalk, Tom’s community of cottage in historic Michigan City, Indiana, features similarly harmonious design. A walk along the 18-foot-wide streets conforms how faithfully he’s applied Seaside’s principles to this Midwestern setting—complete with tropical hues on the houses. “It took some selling to Michigan City folks. Used photos of the area from the 1920’s to help persuade the planning commission, “Tom says. “People were astounded when we started building, and there were comments like, “You should see the purple houses, but most are comfortable with it now.”
The development—nestled amid the same kind of golden sand dunes found in the nearby Indiana Dunes National Seashore—got underway in 1993 and progressed slowly until 1998, when about 30 houses were up. (As is often the case with neo-traditional neighborhoods, enough houses have to be built before people can appreciate the vision.) Then building took off, and now there are more than 100 houses, along with amenities such as small parks, a swimming pool, tennis courts and basketball courts, a combined office and snack shop, and the interior lake. The main attraction though is Lake Michigan shore. To get there, residents cross a 400 foot long elevated boardwalk to Sheridan Beach, a public strand that extends five miles east from Michigan City to New Buffalo, the next town around the lake.
“We heard there were nice beaches along this part of the lake but were still surprised at the Indiana Dunes”, says Michele Manahan Pugh. “We just happened on Beachwalk and were so energized by the cheerful colors and the character of the place we wound up walking around for hours.” She and her husband soon built their own cottage here, a two-hour drive from their home in Bloomington, Illinois. For many others, the location is even more convenient - about a one-hour drive or trip on the South Shore Line commuter railroad from Chicago.
The busiest season is summer, when the daily ebb and flow of life includes little red wagons piled with kids and gear headed to and from the beach. “In summer, our function is to serve 10-year olds,” Tom jokes. But people come during other seasons too. Michigan City has a full calendar of festivals, as well as an art museum, a zoo and various galleries and restaurants. Even winter has its appeal. “The Festival of Lights in December is fun, “says Michele. “We enjoy bundling up and walking on the beach to see how the ice piles up.”
Residents here offer high praise for the care Tom takes developing the plan and holding the line on what gets built. “We wanted a place that my wife describes as beachy,” says
Chicago based Beachwalk homeowner Peter Szujewski. “It’s really mellow. It offers a true contrast to the city, and that’s why we love it.” Peter and his wife, Elaine, were among the early discoverers. They bought a small house that overlooks the interior lake. “Spring and fall on the lake are wonderful,” Peter adds. “At 6 a.m. it’s teeming with birds and wildlife.”
Tom continues exploring ways to extend Beachwalk’s special character. Houses around the little lake are deliberately kept small to avoid visually “shrinking” it. For future phases (eventually there will be 700 houses), he has retained well-regarded Connecticut architects Robert Orr & Associates. Seaside-inspired architecture has settled in comfortably on this Indiana shore.
