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I'm a Gary native. My family still lives nearby but the last of us left in the mid-1990's (the drug addict was last to leave, go figure). The biggest obstacle apart from economics and the avoid-NWI-at-all-costs politics, is the steel mill itself. I know Gary wouldn't be the same town it is without it, but now it's Gary's biggest liability for future improvement.
Can you imagine what Gary would have been like if the mills were elsewhere? With the curve of Lake Michigan reaching out westward, the view to Chicago is impressive. I imagine that without the mill, Gary would have been a rich enclave for Chicago commuters...a place with a view, a beach, and lower taxes. Keep that in mind...
Gary is on Lake Michigan, right? In my entire life in NWI, I saw Lake Michigan only once from the city of Gary. I can't recall how we got there, but my dad drove us to a dock someplace amidst large industrial buildings. It was the only time I saw the lake from within Gary. (Years later, we went to a park on the east side and saw the lake there, but that was after I left--Is this Miller Park, is that the name?).
Gary's only hope for improvement is to remove the mills entirely. Yes, I know that's expensive and impractical on some levels (toxic soils and waste come to mind as well as mitigation costs). But, I can think of no other way. You can build condos and sell the idea that Chicago is an easy commute away, but you'll still have that ugly, rotting, industrial, peeled-painted steel mill looming nearby. You'll still have that large portion of Chicago's south side to traverse and it's no picnic either!
I propose that the steel mills be torn down and the area north of the skyway be master planned with tree-lined streets, retail shops with housing above, single family rowhomes and townhomes, and a park/beach along the lake. It would take years and billions. Frankly, I think if the steel companies wanted to really make money, they'd take up this plan, abandon their dying business and cash in on what would rake in millions in profits.
Can you picture something like a Near North side of Chicago where Gary is now? Not too many high-rises near the beach (to obscure everybody's view to the Loop). A beach/park with bike paths? What if the Sox or Cubs played a couple games a year at Railcats Stadium? I mean, NWI has supported Chicago's teams for years, why not return the favor? I see no reason to dream big. A couple of real estate developers and already corrupted politicians can sell a small idea and make money. In order to solve a crisis THIS big requires thinking on a larger scale. Steelworker jobs become construction jobs while the mills wind down. An increase in construction workers can live nearby, helping to brighten up the area south of the Skyway in the meantime. Bring in those Chicago architects and build a New Gary, a new style of living that actually works and, most importantly, attracts people to continue to live here.
Well, it's just an idea, far-fetched for sure, but still an idea (from a former Architecture/Urban Planning student).
Last edited by mhouse2001; 02-16-2007 at 05:52 PM..
Your idea sounds great. I feel the same way about the towns of Whiting & East Chicago. All are on the lakefront and are ripe for redevelopment. Unfortunately, the industry got there first. The Miller Beach area is still nice, but there's no way you can convince families to move in with the state of public schools in Gary. It's interesting that you mention that Chicago should help out ... while that's a great idea, I firmly believe that the state of Indiana itself should bear responsibility. NWI has been the ugly stepchild of this state for a long long time. That is the first thing that needs to change.
Gary has potential. This potential can be realized by taking positive action. Charge for schools (minimal but mandatory) and put the money back into schools. $150/year goes a long way in improving education. It also gets rid of people who don't want an education. (Teachers/Schools don't babysit for lazy parents) When schools improve - families move in. When families move in - businesses move in because families pay for goods and services.
Things change by having people with a vision take charge and be in charge. Throw a couple of politicians in the spotlight for not doing their job and then make sure they don't get re-elected - it works!
Crime can always improve - more police - more drug busts. Safe for families. Takes time - no quick fix. The right people with a vision need to be in charge. Politicians in Gary - gotta go - make it happen!
Wow, where do I begin? First is that Gary is going to rebound, and sooner then most would suspect. The airport is expanding its runway and some heavy hitters from Chicago and Indiana are quietly planning big things. That will give a huge boost to the area. Trump (whom I personally don't like) has been buying up lots of land on the lakefront and around the airport. He doesn't do anything unless he will make a buck. I personally know developers who have been investing in Gary for years and have done very well for themselves. There is a lot of money to be made and the smart investors have known that for years.
As for the baseball stadium, I am shocked and disappointed to hear people complain that it shouldn't have been built. It was the first good thing built in Gary since the casino. Yeah the cost overruns sucked and I am sure some official skimmed money but the final result is a really nice stadium that is used by everyone. Mayor Daley figured out that if you clean up an area and build a nice park or attraction it transforms the whole neighborhood. I live in Chicago and I have heard more people say they have seen the stadium from the tollroad and ask me if it is as nice as it looks. I tell them it is nice, safe and a cheap alternative to the Sox/Cubs. The fact that people would venture into downtown Gary for anything is a HUGE bonus. It will take time but the ballpark is already changing peoples perception of Gary and that will lead to bigger and better things. You have to start somewhere-baby steps.
The corruption is horrible and has been one of the biggest problems for the city. Scott King tried for many years and was fought every inch of the way. In the beginning he fired councilemen for using drugs on their lunch breaks and they sued the city because they weren't using during working hours. He was called a racist even though his wife is black. It was discovered that for years the city missed millions of dollars in Federal grants because no one in the city government knew how to write a grant asking for the money. It was a comedy of errors and Scott King tried hard to clean it up. But it wore him out.
It was stated "why does Hammond get a Wal-mart" well it is because the Mayor of Hammond has been pushing for reform and putting the casino money to work in the city. The casino is expanding to 3 times its current size, they started a college scholorship program for residents, a Cabela's sporting goods store will open in the fall of '07, all the grade schools have been rebuilt as well as all the streets and sidewalks. They even have a version of the ballpark called Lost Marsh golf course. Many residents are still complaining about the cost overruns or the money could have been better spent. But it is a great course and more then half of players are from Illinois. Last summer I couldn't get a tee time because it was packed with an outing of Chicago doctors. Guess what, they spent a lot of money in Hammond then they go home and say nice things about the golf course, and the city of Hammond. Then after awhile it snowballs into better things and peoples perceptions change. However I think because Hammond is over 70% white it might have an easier time bringing in new businesses.
My wife and I recently purchased a second home in the Miller Beach section of Gary. It is a great escape and most of the homes around us are owned by Chicagoans as 2nd or 3rd homes. Miller is going gang busters and it will eventually spill out into other areas. The fact that Chicagoans are buying property in Gary and bringing friends to visit or just talking about it will only help the area. The Miller Bakery Cafe is still opened and as busy as ever and the new Bakers House is fantastic for scones, quiche and coffee. Two new restaurants are slated to open in the spring.
Gary is a CITY with all the problems that comes with it. Gary will change, it must. But the worst thing for a city is peoples perceptions and rampant bad mouthing. If you look on this forum or any forums on the web and Gary is mentioned, the first thing people type is "stay out" or "it is very dangerous". I would bet you none of those posters have ever set foot in the city. Recently I read a post saying Gary is the murder capital of the United States and extremely dangerous. Yes, that was true like 15 years ago. But when it is posted as fact with other fear inducing paranoia then it just confirms peoples fear and holds the area down. There is crime EVERYWHERE! The fact that if the same robbery occured in Munster and Gary, the Gary robbery would make the newspaper, most likely the front page. The Munster crime, if reported, would be on page 3. The city being majority black has a lot to do with it. I am constantly asked in Chicago if I am scared to drive or live in Miller. It amazes me to think that people feel that Gary residents are hiding in the bushes at the border waiting to attack you when you enter. It is unbelievable. I tell them that everyone is really nice and just trying to work, raise a family and enjoy their lives like everybody else.
That argument that crime is everywhere is so absurd. Of course it's everywhere, but how often does it occur? How many shootings are there in Gary vs. Munster? Maybe one shooting every few years in most towns, if that. Compared to at least one or two a week in Gary? I'm shocked that people aren't flocking to cities that experience weekly or daily shootings, let alone all the other crime that goes on. As for the newspaper argument, you've got it backwards. The Gary shootings would be on page 3, or 10, if it was even reported at all, because it's so common. A shooting in Munster would be on page 1 because it's so rare. Nobody is saying that all or even most Gary residents are waiting to attack you. But the fact that the vast majority of Gary residents are decent, law abiding people won't protect you as bullets are flying through the air. As for Miller Beach, there's a reason why it's halfway decent, take a look at a map. It's almost completely cut off from the rest of the city by rail yards and industry, there's only a couple of roads linking it with the rest of Gary. If you think the city is so marvelous, why didn't you buy a condo in beautiful downtown Gary instead, to get started on the revitalization of this hidden gem of a city?
1. Make the university the focal point. Increase funding to help the university grow.
2. Increase the police presence dramatically. Bust everybody for everything illegal....and I'm talking all the way down to the idiots throwing bottles out of their car windows.
3. Make the residents maintain their properties. Give grants if necessary.
4. Rehab or tear down old half burnt or run down abandoned buildings. Seeing 2-3 of them on each road certainly doesn't help the appeal of the city.
5. Much like mayor McDermott of Hammond, give current residents grants to help more people become homeowners. If you own it, you will take better care of it.
6. Also like mayor McDermott of Hammond, give current residents grants to help more people become educated. If you can get a better job, AND you are getting a grant for a home (see #5) you will bring up the average home price, average education and average income of the city.
7. Keep the crooks out of office! What Gary needs is a ball-buster to take over and kick the crime.
Yes, it would be very expensive, but what is the alternative? Just let the city rot and hit it with a wrecking ball? Wait until the crime takes over neighboring communities? Change needs funding.
I'm a Gary native. My family still lives nearby but the last of us left in the mid-1990's (the drug addict was last to leave, go figure). The biggest obstacle apart from economics and the avoid-NWI-at-all-costs politics, is the steel mill itself. I know Gary wouldn't be the same town it is without it, but now it's Gary's biggest liability for future improvement.
Can you imagine what Gary would have been like if the mills were elsewhere? With the curve of Lake Michigan reaching out westward, the view to Chicago is impressive. I imagine that without the mill, Gary would have been a rich enclave for Chicago commuters...a place with a view, a beach, and lower taxes. Keep that in mind...
Gary is on Lake Michigan, right? In my entire life in NWI, I saw Lake Michigan only once from the city of Gary. I can't recall how we got there, but my dad drove us to a dock someplace amidst large industrial buildings. It was the only time I saw the lake from within Gary. (Years later, we went to a park on the east side and saw the lake there, but that was after I left--Is this Miller Park, is that the name?).
Gary's only hope for improvement is to remove the mills entirely. Yes, I know that's expensive and impractical on some levels (toxic soils and waste come to mind as well as mitigation costs). But, I can think of no other way. You can build condos and sell the idea that Chicago is an easy commute away, but you'll still have that ugly, rotting, industrial, peeled-painted steel mill looming nearby. You'll still have that large portion of Chicago's south side to traverse and it's no picnic either!
I propose that the steel mills be torn down and the area north of the skyway be master planned with tree-lined streets, retail shops with housing above, single family rowhomes and townhomes, and a park/beach along the lake. It would take years and billions. Frankly, I think if the steel companies wanted to really make money, they'd take up this plan, abandon their dying business and cash in on what would rake in millions in profits.
Can you picture something like a Near North side of Chicago where Gary is now? Not too many high-rises near the beach (to obscure everybody's view to the Loop). A beach/park with bike paths? What if the Sox or Cubs played a couple games a year at Railcats Stadium? I mean, NWI has supported Chicago's teams for years, why not return the favor? I see no reason to dream big. A couple of real estate developers and already corrupted politicians can sell a small idea and make money. In order to solve a crisis THIS big requires thinking on a larger scale. Steelworker jobs become construction jobs while the mills wind down. An increase in construction workers can live nearby, helping to brighten up the area south of the Skyway in the meantime. Bring in those Chicago architects and build a New Gary, a new style of living that actually works and, most importantly, attracts people to continue to live here.
Well, it's just an idea, far-fetched for sure, but still an idea (from a former Architecture/Urban Planning student).
And after you tear down the mills, the people will work where?
And after you tear down the mills, the people will work where?
Where do people work who live in Munster or Lansing or any of the other hundreds of primarily residential towns around Chicagoland? Gary residents will hop on the South Shore, which has a station conveniently located downtown, for a quick commute to their jobs in Chicago.
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Gary Indiana - Re-Inventing Civilization
There is crime EVERYWHERE! The fact that if the same robbery occured in Munster and Gary, the Gary robbery would make the newspaper, most likely the front page. The Munster crime, if reported, would be on page 3. The city being majority black has a lot to do with it. I am constantly asked in Chicago if I am scared to drive or live in Miller. It amazes me to think that people feel that Gary residents are hiding in the bushes at the border waiting to attack you when you enter. It is unbelievable. I tell them that everyone is really nice and just trying to work, raise a family and enjoy their lives like everybody else.
