Mayor revises plan for pop star center

INDIANAPOLIS | Gary Mayor Rudy Clay will reintroduce proposals to build the Michael Jackson Performing Arts Center and a Jackson family museum once "we dot some I's and cross some T's," he said.

Ordinances creating two new city departments to manage the facilities were pulled from the City Council agenda on Tuesday.

"They didn't pull it because they did not support it. They pulled it because I asked them to," Clay said. "When it was drafted, the word 'department' should not have been put in that."

The revised plan will not create any city departments. Instead, accounts designated for privately raised money will be established.

"We have people right now that are waiting on the sidelines to donate monies to this endeavor," Clay said. "We've had inquiries from a lot of people."

Clay's vision for the development would put the performing arts center on the northwest corner of Fifth Street and Broadway, adjacent to the Genesis Convention Center. A separate Jackson family museum also would be on the site, ideally connected to a hotel, Clay said.

The mayor said he hopes the Michael Jackson Performing Arts Center will be "the most beautiful, most comfortable, attractive performing arts entertainment center anywhere in the world."

News of new city departments raised eyebrows at the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board, which allowed Gary to charge the highest property taxes in the state this year to try to stave off a city bankruptcy.

"My jaw dropped a little bit, regardless of what it was, after I saw 'creating two new departments,'" said Ryan Kitchell, head of the state board. "Our sense was they had an awful lot of departments when we did these hearings last year."

Pennsylvania-based Public Financial Management currently is analyzing Gary's revenue and spending and will report soon on what changes need to be made to keep Gary afloat. The state board forced Gary to hire a fiscal monitor as a condition of property tax cap relief.

Clay said he is working with the monitor to ensure the new accounts for the Jackson projects will be open and transparent.