George Douglas

Upgrades to Valparaiso's "Barrel District" are nearing completion. Valparaiso Development Director George Douglas told the city council Monday that Journeyman Distillery expects to take control of its property from its contractor by mid-September.

The Valparaiso City Council is supporting a measure that would allow for future incentives for a boutique hotel development. Urschel Development plans to convert the 1899 Gardner School that for decades housed the Boys & Girls Club into a 58-room Grand Gardner Hotel.

New athletic fields, pickleball courts and a nature park will be coming to Valparaiso as part of the city's Sports and Recreation Complex.

Valparaiso is moving ahead with efforts to get READI funds for its new 248-acre park. The board of works last week agreed to let city development director George Douglas submit the necessary grant paperwork to the Northwest Indiana Forum.

George Douglas is officially stepping down from the Valparaiso City Council, as he prepares to take over as the city's development director. His appointment to the position was announced on March 16, but before he could work for the city, he had to resign from his elected council position.