Gary teams up with Notre Dame in new push to revive downtown
Gary and Notre Dame have teamed up on a downtown revitalization plan focused on walkability, public spaces, and preserving historic buildings.
The effort includes community input and the return of a preservation board to guide what stays and what goes.
Zoning updates and demolition are underway, backed by funding from the state and Hard Rock Casino, with no final timeline yet.
GARY, Ind. - Gary has heard promises of revitalization before — and has often been left waiting.
But this time, there's real money behind it and real momentum.
What we know
The city has partnered with the University of Notre Dame to reimagine its downtown.
Students and faculty from the university's School of Architecture spent a year working on the plan, holding public meetings and design workshops to shape the vision.
The goal: a walkable downtown filled with shops, public art and community gathering spaces.
A key step was reinstating the city's historic preservation board to determine which buildings should be saved and which should be demolished.
Mayor Eddie Melton said this idea will only work if the people of Gary keep showing up and staying involved.
"This plan is for us as a community. It belongs to all of us, every single one of us in the city. This plan is going to help residents, entrepreneurs, churches, faith leaders, cultural leaders and developers. And it gives us a shared road map to move forward together," Melton said.
What's next
Next up: updating zoning codes to allow new construction.
There's no final timeline yet, but the project has secured funding from the state and Hard Rock Casino. Demolition is already underway.
For more details on the 10-year plan, click here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Intel CEO to meet with Trump at White House, WSJ reports
After President Trump called for his resignation last week, Intel (INTC) CEO Lip-Bu Tan is set to meet with Trump at the White House Monday, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. Yahoo Finance Tech Editor Dan Howley discusses the latest. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Morning Brief. But Dan, I do want to follow up and ask you about what's going on with Intel and its CEO Lip-Bu-Tan, who is reportedly going to be meeting with Trump today on a very different issue. Yeah, this is basically Trump trying to oust him. Uh he said that he had to leave the company, uh that he was, you know, quote unquote very conflicted. And this kind of goes back to his days with Cadence. Uh Cadence just settled a uh a suit with the government basically saying that they had provided some materials to a university that the government believes has links to the Chinese military. And so, you know, they settled, uh and then Senator Tom Cotton has come forward and said, look, you know, this is this is a big deal. Uh someone should, you know, look deeper into this. Uh Lip-Bu-Tan has some investments in Chinese companies. He is a US citizen. Uh and so, you know, there's this kind of back and forth as to, you know, does does do his prior uh, you know, uh kind of instances of investing in Chinese companies make him uh good for being Intel CEO or not. Related Videos Russia deal will be 'a canary for the markets' on US–China talks Trump's Nvidia, AMD China deal: National security risks persist Trump Says 'Not Up to Me' to Make a Deal With Putin Trump to Take Control of DC Police Department, Deploy National Guard Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Diversified Foodservice Supply Appoints Lev Peker as Chief Executive Officer
VERNON HILLS, Ill., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Diversified Foodservice Supply (DFS), a leading provider of equipment, supplies, and parts to the foodservice industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lev Peker as Chief Executive Officer. Peker brings a strong track record of leadership and growth from the automotive aftermarket industry, where he excelled as CEO of PartsID and There, he successfully scaled operations, enhanced customer experience, and delivered strong financial results. His deep expertise in e-commerce, operational efficiency, and system modernization aligns closely with DFS's strategic priorities. Known for his passion for innovation and customer focus, Peker has built a reputation for driving performance through streamlined operations and fostering a strong team culture. While foodservice is a new space for him, his adaptable leadership style and proven business acumen are expected to bring a fresh perspective and renewed energy to DFS. "I'm honored to join DFS at such a pivotal time," said Peker. "The opportunity to lead a company with such deep industry roots and a strong customer-first culture is incredibly exciting. I look forward to building on this foundation and unlocking new ways to deliver value through innovation, operational excellence, and digital transformation." For more information on DFS or its companies, visit About Diversified Foodservice SupplyDiversified Foodservice Supply (DFS), LLC, based in Vernon Hills, IL, is a leader in parts, supplies, and accessories for the food industry, serving over 250,000 foodservice customer locations worldwide. DFS is uniquely positioned with a broad product assortment that offers customers a choice between national brands from leading OEMs and high-quality exclusive brands such as Mavrik OCM parts, Franklin kitchen accessories, and KNG apparel. Along with a comprehensive inventory of in-stock products that ship the same day, DFS offers industry-leading warranties, and an award-winning customer service team comprised of veterans from the restaurant and service industries. The company markets its products to service professionals, resellers, and restaurant operators through its proprietary banners, including AllPoints, TundraFMP, Gaskets Unlimited, and Espresso Parts. Contact Information:Diversified Foodservice Supply (DFS)Rachel Seersee@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Diversified Foodservice Supply Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Attorney for Hopewell vice mayor says lawsuit based on 'political disagreement,' not misconduct
Calling it 'political disagreement, not actionable misconduct,' the attorney for Hopewell Vice Mayor Rita Joyner has asked a federal court to throw out former Hopewell City Manager Concetta Manker's almost $7 million wrongful termination lawsuit against Joyner. The paperwork was filed Aug. 8 in U.S. District Court in Richmond at the same time that the city of Hopewell filed its own motions to dismiss the suit. Manker, who was fired May 1 along with City Clerk Brittani Williams, filed the suit July 7 and is asking for a total of $6.85 million in damages, including punitive damages against Joyner, Mayor Johnny Partin Jr., and councilors Ronnie Ellis of Ward 4 and Susan Daye of Ward 5. Manker accuses Joyner of racism, citing several examples where the vice mayor reportedly said that Manker, who is Black, was 'Blacking up the city' by hiring people of color as major department heads. She also claims Joyner defamed her by calling her 'incompetent' in a 2024 email and stating that she hoped to get enough votes from the results of that November's election to have Manker fired. All four councilors who voted to fire Manker are White. Because Joyner was singled out for more than the others, she had to hire her own attorney and file a separate response. Joyner is represented by Virginia Beach-based attorney Anne Lahren. More: Judge continues Hopewell treasurer's case after her attorney asks to withdraw Vice mayor acted within 'authority' In the lawsuit, Manker cited Joyner for racism, defamation and blocking due process. In her response, Joyner's attorney said the vice mayor was acting totally within her authority as a Hopewell elected official and as one of seven people to whom the city manager is directly accountable. 'Joyner exercised her authority as an elected official to criticize Plaintiff's performance and advocate for a change in leadership consistent with the will of the voters,' the response stated. 'Plaintiff repeatedly characterizes Joyner's conduct as 'thwarting' her initiatives, opposing her policies, and expressing negative views about her job performance. These allegations, even if true, reflect political disagreement, not actionable misconduct.' None of Manker's allegations are 'a matter of law,' the response said. "The Complaint fails to allege facts sufficient to establish racial animus, deprivation of a protected property or liberty interest, or actionable defamatory statements,' it read. 'Moreover, Joyner's actions as an elected official – expressing criticism, participating in governance decisions, and communicating with constituents and the press about matters of public concern – are fully protected under both constitutional and state law doctrines, including qualified immunity and the First Amendment.' Because Manker's allegations represent 'disagreement with the political and policy choices of the City's duly elected leadership, rather than any legally cognizable wrongdoing,' the suit should be dismissed, according to the response. More: 'Sad and difficult case': First of 3 suspects in Hopewell child's shooting death sentenced Mirrors Hopewell's response Joyner's response jibes with the official position of Hopewell in the case. That response, filed by City Attorney Anthony Bessette, calls the allegations 'nothing more than legal conclusions, or where the allegations permit a court to infer no more than a possibility of misconduct. It stated that Manker was terminated because she 'was not performing at a level that met the City's legitimate expectations.' As for the claims of racism, the city's response called them 'flimsy. 'The race of the decision makers does not give rise to an inference of discrimination,' it read. 'This is particularly true where the same four councilors who voted to terminate Dr. Manker's employment voted to hire Michael Rogers, an African American male, to be the Interim City Manager. Because Dr. Manker was not replaced by someone outside of her protected class, there is no inference of race discrimination.' While the lawsuit alleges that Ellis blew 'a racist dog whistle' when he circulated campaign flyers saying it was time 'to take back our city,' it also claimed he improperly made the motion to reconsider a February vote to terminate Manker because he walked out of the meeting. Ellis is a battalion chief with the Hopewell Fire Department, and in that position, Manker claimed he directly reported to her; therefore, his motion was a violation of conflict-of-interest. Hopewell claims that Manker's termination was permissible because her contract was not originally in violation of the act. Virginia's Conflict-of-Interest Act [COIA] states that only contracts and purchases that run afoul of COIA can only be voided, and it is silent on any other legal transactions. 'The termination of Dr. Manker's contract is neither a contract nor a purchase made in violation of COIA,' the city's response said. 'Therefore, even if the vote violated COIA, the vote is not void or voidable.' No dates have been set for preliminary hearings on the lawsuit. Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell officials respond to former city manager's federal lawsuit Solve the daily Crossword
