Byron Dillard, standing, updates the Gary Redevelopment Commission on progress of the lakefront redevelopment project

Gary Redevelopment Commission hears from lakefront developer

Contributed By:The 411 News

With a memorandum of understanding signed, Meridian Hospitality Group returned to the Gary Redevelopment Commission with the first phase of pre-planning for redevelopment along Miller’s Lake Street, Marquette Park and the beachfront.

In March 2017, Meridian was among a group of developers presenting ideas for areas designated for redevelopment in the city’s master plan. Then, Meridian imagined Marquette Park and the Lake Street beach as anchoring a hotel, retail and entertainment establishments stretching along a boardwalk. Their design showed a launch for boats, recreation and park areas, a Ferris wheel, museum and visitors center. Meridian’s plan follows the model of the National Harbor on the Wash., D.C. waterfront.

Five other developers were showcased at the March meeting, presenting redevelopment plans for a light industrial district, the University Park area of Glen Park, and in the Horace Mann district.

Major components – the hotel, retail, restaurant, recreation areas – remain in their plans, Byron Dillard, Meridian’s CEO told the Redevelopment Commission. He said pre-planning is only 65% complete with a final presentation set for late February 2019.

Architectural and engineering estimates will determine which of the components Meridian will be able to deliver, Dillard said.

In the meantime, Meridian has completed an initial environmental and plant analysis. Soil core samples, plant species and tree counts are being done. A second analysis will be performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

An emergency preparedness plan has to be included, Dillard said, when building on the waterfront. “If we’re going to have 150 overnight [hotel] residents, even if only two-thirds are on that location … if anything occurs on the lakefront, we have to secure them safe passage.”

The current route down Lake Street bottlenecks at the rail overpass, Dillard said. With the new development bringing in greater numbers of visitors, Meridian will ask the city to widen Lake Street and add a crossover to Grand Blvd.

Meridian’s 2017 team of presenters included engineering, architectural, hotel development, construction, financial and public relations companies. Redevelopment commissioner Bill Joiner wanted to know the status of those interested investors. He asked, “Are you updating your investors and are you comfortable going forward?” “We’ve had some come and some go. We had Marriott; now Wyndham Hotels has shown an interest. But our core group remains,” Dillard replied.

The developer’s concept for transit oriented development along Lake Street near the South Shore railway includes new housing and commercial spaces, rebuilding the railway’s operations office, and an estimate for the cost of raising the platform. The raised platform is part of the proposed West Lake Corridor Project that will extend the South Shore’s commuter service to Dyer. That project calls for enhancements to Gary’s commuter stations and adding a second track to the 25-mile stretch of the railroad between Gary and Michigan City.

“We missed the opportunity to bid on the Genesis Center, but our interest has not gone away,” Dillard said. “We hope to engage the city in acquiring the facility, modernize and operate it.”

Following the Redevelopment Commission meeting, Dillard headed out to Miller to meet with 1st District City Councilwoman Rebecca Wyatt and district residents.

The commission welcomed a new member, Nellie Moore, president of the Gary Board of School Trustees as a non-voting member. “Although I’m only an observer, I’m here to represent the interests of the Gary school corporation,” Moore said.


Meridian Hospitality Group’s 2017 design plan for development along the lakefront in Miller


Meridian’s Byron Dillard, standing, updates the Gary Redevelopment Commission on progress of the lakefront redevelopment project. Seated (l-r) Jeraldine Williams, Nellie Moore, Joe Van Dyk, and Atty. Gilbert King.

Story Posted:07/25/2018