The $280 million mixed-use development will include condominiums, townhomes, vacation rentals, retail and a hotel just steps from Lake Michigan

Farpoint Development has announced the start of residential sales at SoLa, a resort community bringing 170 new condominiums, 18 townhomes, a 250-key hotel and retail options to the southern shore of Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Ind., 50 miles east of Chicago.

Located in the heart of downtown Michigan City at Franklin Street and Michigan Boulevard, SoLa offers a vacation lifestyle with access to the lakefront and beach, plentiful on-site amenities and proximity to local restaurants, cultural attractions like the Lubeznik Center for the Arts and recreational amenities such as Indiana Dunes National Park and the Marquette Greenway Trail that hugs the lake as it runs from Chicago to New Buffalo, Mich.

With easy access from Chicago, Indiana and Michigan via Interstate 94, in addition to the recently completed Double Track upgrade to the South Shore Line providing daily commuter rail service to and from downtown Chicago in about an hour, SoLa is a central destination for those throughout the region seeking a second home, full-time residence or vacation rental investment.

“Michigan City has flown under the radar for years, but thanks to a confluence of different factors, like the South Shore Line’s upgrade, the city’s investment in creating a vibrant downtown and regulations on industry resulting in a cleaner lakefront, the time is right for it to come into its own,” said Scott Goodman, a founding principal at Farpoint Development. “As someone who has spent years traveling back and forth between Chicago and Michigan with my family, I’ve always recognized Michigan City’s untapped potential as a lakefront destination for both primary and secondary homeowners that is on par with any of Harbor Country’s popular vacation towns. The kick off of residential sales at SoLa is the first step of what will surely be a transformative project for the area.”

Encompassing 2.8 acres in the city’s Uptown Arts District, SoLa is oriented to take advantage of unparalleled views of Lake Michigan and, on clear days, the Chicago skyline. The development’s condominiums are housed in two towers that rise seven and 13 stories along its south and west sides, respectively, while a 13-story hotel spans the east end of the development. Townhomes will be located along the north and west sides of the project.

Connecting SoLa’s for-sale residences with its hotel is a 396-space, climate-controlled parking garage that rests below the development’s crown jewel – a 36,000-square-foot outdoor amenity deck with a four-season pool and hot tub area with a retractable roof; lounge seating and cabanas with poolside food and beverage service; fire pits; a dog walk and dog wash station; and landscaped areas for year-round activities such as community events, outdoor movies and more. This level also includes an indoor fitness center and full service spa. Additionally, Sola will have 21,000 square feet of commercial space, with plans for a variety of tenants including world class food and beverage options and an outdoor outfitter.

Residents at SoLa can choose between luxury single-level condominiums and duplex townhomes, some of which offer private rooftops with views of the lake. Condominiums are offered in one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts ranging from 760 to 1,754 square feet, while townhomes feature three or four bedrooms, range from 1,708 to 1,964 square feet and have private entrances at street level. Condominiums are priced from the mid $400,000s, while townhomes start in the low $900,000s. Currently, 128 residences have been released for sale.

All homes have 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area, maintenance-free wood plank type flooring, recessed lighting, two-panel solid wood doors with chrome hardware, painted white wood shaker kitchen cabinets, quartz kitchen countertops/backsplash, in-unit washer/dryer, and spacious private terraces with glass railings allowing unobstructed views of the lake. Both condominium owners and hotel guests will have access to SoLa’s centrally located third-floor amenity deck, while a resident-only grilling station will be located on top of one of the condominium buildings.

“As evidenced by the 550 registered prospects and the fact that 15% of the condos went under contract at the very start of pre-sales, anyone who has visited or vacationed in this area knows how rare it is for a new resort community like SoLa – with hospitality-style amenities and services, not to mention the ability to watch the sun set over Lake Michigan – to come to market,” Goodman said. “Adding to the convenient lifestyle at SoLa is the option for anyone who purchases a residence to offer their home as a short-term vacation rental when not in use, resulting in passive income that can make their purchase in this resort community even more attractive.”

All residents at SoLa can make their homes available for short-term stays through the community’s turnkey management company – SoLa Vacation Rentals. The program offers an on-site rental management office, direct booking, dynamic pricing, secure escrow and money management and no limits on owner stays.

SoLa was designed by award-winning Koo Architecture, whose growing portfolio of notable hospitality work also includes Chicago lodging standouts like The Wit and Sable at Navy Pier, among others.

Construction on SoLa is expected to begin this July and be largely completed by summer 2027, with residences delivering in early 2027 and the hotel expected to open that June. The development will create 275 permanent, full-time jobs and hundreds of seasonal positions.

Kacia Snyder of Encore Sotheby’s International Realty | Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty is the exclusive listing agent for SoLa.  For more information on SoLa or to reserve a residence, visit https://www.solamichigancity.com/

About Farpoint Development:

Founded in 2016, Farpoint Development is a developer of commercial, residential, hospitality and healthcare projects with a mission to build community. The firm’s projects include large-scale commercial projects such as 830 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago and 939 W. North Avenue in Chicago, as well as Englewood Connect, a phased, multi-use gathering space that includes a kitchen and food hub within a vacant firehouse in Englewood, which the firm developed in partnership with McLaurin Development.