The $12 million Gary Blight Elimination Program got underway Monday with the start of demolition August 19th, 2025 at 700-716-22 E. 5TH Avenue in Gary, Indiana – the former site of Lovell’s barbershop. It is the first of two structures that will be taken down by Gary-based C. Lee Construction Services under the program’s initial contract. Work at the second site, a former ambulance repair shop at 1700-1704 Broadway, will begin after the first project is complete.
“We are eager to get to work in Gary to lay the foundation for future economic growth,” said Sherri Ziller, president and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, which is co-funding the program with the City. “Both of these locations are within the downtown Gary Transit Development District established by the RDA. Once they are cleaned up, we will work with the City to direct TDD funds to incentivize new development.”
The Blight Elimination Program was created by Gary Mayor Eddie Melton during his time as a State Senator in Indianapolis. Under this collaborative partnership between Gary and the RDA, the RDA is providing $6 million in matching funds and managing the program to create fresh opportunities for business and residential development in downtown Gary.
About the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority . . .
Established in 2006 through a bipartisan effort including former Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, Congressman Peter J. Visclosky, key state legislators, and local elected officials, the RDA is quasi-governmental development entity entrusted to make public investment decisions within a regional framework for supporting catalytic infrastructure projects and inducing private sector investment. Years of successful results have made it a trusted and tested partner for growth in Northwest Indiana. For more information, visit
www.nwitdd.com
or
www.in.gov/rda
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
