Efforts are underway to bring new housing to the Gary area. Horizon Bank Community Lender Telethia Barrett says she's helped secure federal funding to build homes and boost home ownership for residents with low to moderate incomes.
"So that is basically, what I believe, historic. It not only affects Gary, but the State of Indiana and Michigan," Barrett told the Gary City Council's ways and means committee Tuesday.
But she says that one remaining obstacle is Gary's sewer system. Backups can cause major damage, and Barrett says many insurance companies offer limited coverage. Now, she's asking the city to consider reconstructing the sewer system to protect existing and future homes.
Deputy Mayor Trent McCain says there isn't currently a plan, but he's willing to discuss the idea with the Gary Sanitary District. Lake County may also look at using federal COVID money for sewer improvements in nearby unincorporated areas.
Meanwhile, Council Member Ronald Brewer wants to work on a tax abatement plan for potential subdivisions. "The only thing that we had gained in our city at one time was projects. We no longer have projects. We have all this, now, space here that we can develop into subdivisions. We have schools that sit on acreage of land where we can develop subdivisions," Brewer said during Tuesday's committee meeting.
He hopes subdivisions would bring multiple new residents to the City of Gary.
