Snow fell lightly Monday as an excavator’s steel claw hovered and tore through a century-old house, shattering windows and siding that had been warped by years of neglect. The three-story home, which once stood at 674 Harrison St., was the first of 60 structures to fall during this year’s Citywide Blight Blitz scheduled to take place across five neighborhoods over the coming weeks.
Speaking at a press conference in the Cathedral of the Holy Angels’ gymnasium just prior to the demolition, Mayor Eddie Melton framed the initiative as more than a cleanup campaign.
“This demolition blitz is doing more than removing eyesores; it is resetting the foundation of our neighborhoods,” Melton said. “By clearing these blighted lots, we are removing safety hazards and signaling to residents and investors alike that Gary is ready for new growth.”
Unlike many demolition programs funded entirely by public dollars, Gary’s blitz relies heavily on donated labor and equipment from local contractors. The effort is led by Rieth-Riley Construction, with participation from more than 10 regional companies and agencies, including the Lake County Highway Department.
Jim Wiseman of Rieth-Riley Construction said the coalition reflects a shared stake in Gary’s future.
“Our industry thrives on building things up, but sometimes you have to clear the way to make progress possible,” Wiseman said. “We live and work in this region, and we’re proud to donate our resources to help the city of Gary move forward.”
While demolition addresses immediate safety hazards, Wiseman said the deeper objective is population retention and creating conditions strong enough to keep Gary’s young people from leaving permanently.
“I believe everybody here shares in our vision about a better tomorrow, not just for our city, not just for the residents and constituents, but more importantly, it’s all about the children. We have an obligation to fix these problems and make it a better tomorrow, so that we keep our children here when they get through high school and out of college and come home,” Wiseman said.
City officials say the visible demolition work is only part of the process. Planning and preparation can take up to 10 months and includes structural inspections, environmental abatements, title clearance and coordination with state agencies.
The targeted neighborhoods are Downtown, Emerson, Glen Park, Midtown and Westside — areas city officials say have some of the highest concentrations of long-vacant and structurally unsound properties.
Other partners, including C. Lee Construction Services and Z-Force Transportation, are assisting with hauling debris and providing clean fill materials for backfilling demolished basements, a key step in stabilizing lots after structures come down.
Other partners include Hasse Construction, Superior Construction, Biesen Excavating, MacAllister Equipment, R&D Construction, and Grimmer Construction.
According to Redevelopment Director Chris Harris, the city has identified more than 2,300 structures eligible under the Indiana Unsafe Building Law, which empowers local municipalities to identify, repair, or demolish structures that endanger public health, safety, or property. A sizable number of those properties are in Midtown and Downtown.
“It’s just an exciting time to live in Gary. It’s not just about demolition; we’re planning the work and working the plan,” Harris said.