Gary, Indiana, holds 3rd annual "demolition blitz"
City officials in Gary, Indiana, began their third annual demolition blitz by tearing down eyesores such as abandoned buildings to revitalize the community.
Construction crews were hard at work, tearing down buildings in five different neighborhoods in Gary. The plan is to demolish 60 structures in two weeks.
The city is kicking off the coordinated campaign to clear unsafe homes and revitalize local communities.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said they have close to 7,000 abandoned buildings and are slowly chipping away at the number.
"A lot of the structures that have been abandoned now are structures that were abandoned when I was a kid, and I'm 45-years-old. So now, we're clearing that blight to make it a safer community for students that are walking to school, next-door neighbors that have been living next door to abandoned structures," Melton said.
He said they've acquired $20 million over the past three years. Some of the money comes from the Hard Rock casino, a $12 million grant from the state, and federal dollars coming from a community development block grant program.
"To have a demolished structure, each structure costs about $10 to $15,000 to demolish. Then, the cost of disposal and hauling it, it can be very expensive," Melton said.
Retired firefighter and lifelong Gary resident, Everett Lenoir, said he's excited but has mixed emotions.
"It's a beginning, but it's not noticeable. Not to me anyway," he said. "There's a lot of work that needs to be done, and I hope he does a good job."
Melton said he hopes the demolition will lure the Bears to Gary, but said the work that is being done was going to happen regardless.
"The economic progress that's taking place is on its own path. That was just an element of opportunity that was going to be greater fruit for us moving forward in the future," he said.
For residents like Lenoir, he's hoping this is a step in the right direction.
"Anytime they tear down property in Gary, it's a plus, but like I said before, it's what they do after they tear it down," he said.
Melton said the goal is to create a clean canvas for future developments of more single-family homes and infill housing.
