Mayor Rudy Clay confidently unveiled an aggressive $56 million development plan including senior housing, a new hotel, upscale plaza and retail shops.
"There is a statute out front of Genesis Center they call a fusion," the mayor said, speaking Thursday at a town hall meeting and news conference. "The fusion has a caterpillar that is climbing up -- and at the end of that caterpillar is a butterfly. Tonight, we are going to pay attention to a city that is turning from a caterpillar to a butterfly."
Speaking at the Genesis Convention Center, Clay said the New Gary Development Group's two-phased plan would transform Gary at the end of two years.
The plan is to build a plaza and office and retail wing adjacent to the existing 300-room Sheraton Hotel that has been vacant for more than 20 years, Clay said.
Developers would convert the old Sheraton into a 216-room mixed-housing, but mostly senior-living, complex renamed City Center.
A new Marriott Courtyard with a 125-room capacity would have a few retail businesses. It also would have a restaurant.
"We're going to be in front of that Sheraton taking care of business March 1 ... shaping the plaza, between the old Sheraton and City Hall," Clay said.
An enclosed walkway would join the new City Center to City Hall, and another would connect the Genesis Center to the new hotel, which would be at the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue.
The mayor said the dilapidated buildings lining the 600 and 700 blocks of Broadway are scheduled for demolition and are to be replaced with store lofts and small businesses.
The plan also includes two windmill turbines that create energy and are designated to decrease the new occupants' electric bills.
Clay said the parking lot between the old Sheraton and City Hall would be eliminated, and the plaza would allow pedestrians to sit and shop. Motorists would park their cars in a nearby renovated parking garage.
Architect Phillip Kupritz of K2 Studios, of Chicago, is in partnership with Gary's new plan and helped lead the multimedia presentation.
Kupritz said his development partners put their economic lives on the line to take a 14-story building and bring new business to the building. He asked the audience for their commitment.
"Business is a two-way street, the economic times are right," Kupritz said. "Will you frequent the businesses, be a part -- or will you still go to Hammond? Can you help us?"
The audience of more than 600 people interrupted and clapped throughout the two-hour conference.
"I think it is a wonderful idea, and it is a long time coming," said Gary native Michelle Williams, a stay-at-home mom and entrepreneur. "I returned to Gary to try to raise my family here, and I really appreciate the mayor's vision."
Clay said, "What you are looking at tonight is not a plan on the table, my friends. This one is a done deal."
