Gary City Hall was filled with residents Tuesday evening, as Common Council members voted to approve a controversial new construction project that would rezone the area of the former Beckman Middle School.
A new industrial complex proposed by two Illinois property developers is slated to be built on the shuttered Beckman School site, much to the chagrin of residents who say the development, near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Grant Street in the Midtown neighborhood, offers little benefit to the surrounding community.
Building it would require rezoning the Beckman school from residential to planned unit development. Since the school’s closing in 2008, the site has been tarnished by illegal dumping and pollution.
Back in February, the Gary Plan Commission unanimously recommended denying the rezoning request, citing concerns about the project being uncharacteristic to the surrounding area. Despite that, the council voted 5-4 on Tuesday in favor of the change.
Councilwoman Mary Brown, who voted in favor of the ordinance, acknowledged the harsh fiscal reality the city faces and emphasized that the city’s lack of revenue is preventing it from adequately funding essential public services
“At some point, our city has got to do something to collect some money,” she said.
“We do not have revenue. We cannot afford to pay more to our policemen, firemen or our city workers because we don’t have the revenue. And we need to understand that we’re tax-based, and if we don’t collect revenue, we don’t get anything.”
Other council members supporting the ordinance were Kenneth Whisenton, Linda Barnes-Caldwell, Dwight Williams, and Darren Washington. Marian Ivey, Dwayne Halliburton, and Myles Tolliver joined Council President Lori Latham in opposition.
Residents in attendance strongly opposed the project, citing concerns about property values, noise, pollution, and safety, particularly for children. Several others criticized the council for prioritizing developers over local interests and accused them of neglecting their constituents.
Nearly 20 residents spoke out against the facility during Tuesday’s meeting. Out of the two pages of names in line for public comments, the majority of the time was spent speaking on the Beckman school development. Protesters of the project, including members of Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, held “Vote no today, plan for tomorrow” signs.
“There is a reason that zoning restrictions are put in place to protect resident health and neighborhood quality of life,” GARD said in a statement. “This is especially important in the city of Gary, already overburdened by historic and current air, land and water pollution. Allowing non-residential developments to locate in residential neighborhoods is detrimental to the safety and viability of the neighborhood and will not contribute to the sustainable development and redevelopment of Gary.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, residents voiced their surprise — and disappointment — about the outcome.
“I think it’s important to ask ourselves this one question: Do we want to believe in Gary? Do we believe in the future of Gary?” Michaela Spangenburg said at the meeting.
“Gary’s turning into a truck stop,” another resident said after the vote.
Robert Buggs, who spoke in opposition to the move ahead of the vote, said that he was “appalled” by the decision, and felt that the council neglected the wants of the constituents who voted to put them there.
“None of those people up on the council live next door to that building,” he said.
Of the more than a dozen residents who spoke during the public comment period, only one, John Allen, spoke in favor of the proposal, echoing Councilwoman Brown’s sentiments regarding the city’s struggling tax base.
“No city can survive without taxes, fines and fees. That’s just what it is,” Allen said. “We have to increase our population, and we need as many people from elsewhere to come here and risk their dollars like this investor is doing.”
