Copyright Chicago Tribune
A river doesn’t run through Crown Point, but it now has a riverfront district, allowing the issuance of more liquor licenses in the city. The Crown Point City Council at its Nov. 3 meeting unanimously adopted the ordinance upon final reading. Mayor Pete Land said he has been out in the community and has answered a number of questions about the proposal. The primary purpose of the ordinance is to encourage fine dining restaurants in the city’s downtown. Residents have also questioned him in regard to the “riverfront district” issue. “We’re not building a river. We’re not doing anything with our water conveyance source,” Land said. The district will encourage businesses primarily serving food, and not stand-alone bars or a place selling just hot dogs, he said. City Councilman Scott Evorik, R-at-large, said he has seen a lot of backlash on social media about the ordinance being put in place to just add more bars. Evorik and Land said that isn’t the case. “Instead of a McDonald’s or Wendy’s, we want more fine dining across the path,” Evorik said. And the new ordinance puts Crown Point officials in the driver’s seat when it comes to businesses applying in the future, Land said. “It gives the city another tool in the toolbox,” Land said. City Councilman Robert Clemons, R-2nd, agreed the ordinance was worthwhile to continue adding businesses to the city’s downtown. “This is a gift. This is a good situation,” Clemons said. Similar to the city’s historic liquor license program, local businesses will be able to apply for a riverfront license if they are located in the Riverfront District, which is bounded by 101st Avenue to the north, Mississippi Street to the east, 113th Avenue to the south, and Madison Street to the west. While Crown Point does not have a river, Indiana Code defines a riverfront to include a water conveyance ditch, Land said. “The Beaver Dam Ditch runs through the proposed district,” he said. Other Lake County communities that have a riverfront district include Schererville and St. John. Land said adopting the riverfront district concept has been discussed for some time. Through the proposed district, Land said the city hopes to enhance Crown Point’s local and regional appeal and bolster tourism, while removing barriers to small business owners. The city will have 15 riverfront liquor licenses on hand that can be used as one, two or three-way licenses, he said. Those interested would have to submit an application that shows how the establishment will draw people to Crown Point with a dining and entertainment experience, and not an alcohol consumption experience. Applicants must also include a business plan, provide workforce data and detail any improvements they plan to make to the desired facility. The application will then be subject to approval by the Crown Point Redevelopment Commission, which will forward its findings to the office of the mayor. The mayor’s office would then make a recommendation to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Each license will cost $25,000 and will not be transferable. The funds will be deposited into the city’s redevelopment fund, which will support the establishment and maintenance of the riverfront district, as well as general uses of the redevelopment commission. In other business, the city council approved a special use resolution allowing for a fitness facility, called Club Pilates, to locate at 10835 Broadway. Club owner James Lemons said the club would take over Stride Fitness. Lemons said his company just opened a fifth business in Schererville. “Welcome to Crown Point,” Land told him. Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
