Northwest Indiana is in line for a federal cash infusion that could finally knock down one of Gary's most infamous vacant buildings and help ramp up cargo operations at Gary/Chicago International Airport.
Rep. Frank Mrvan announced that two local projects made it into a key House appropriations package, positioning the city to demolish the long-vacant Ivanhoe Elementary and build out new heavy cargo capacity at the airport. Local officials say the potential funding pairs long-awaited cleanup on the west side with an ongoing push to grow cargo and, eventually, passenger service.
What the House Report Includes
According to the House Appropriations Committee's Transportation and HUD report on Congress.gov, the package currently sets aside:
- $850,000 for a heavy cargo logistics apron at Gary/Chicago International Airport
- $1.1 million to demolish the former Ivanhoe Elementary, listed under a West Side Community Stabilization project
- $625,000 for a Michigan City Westside Opportunity Hub project, which Mrvan also advanced for his district
The entries are written into the committee report that accompanies the broader spending bill, not the final law, so the numbers are promising but not guaranteed.
Clearing Ivanhoe
City redevelopment officials have long flagged Ivanhoe Elementary and nearby Ivanhoe Gardens as a stubbornly blighted stretch on Gary's west side. The school building has been shuttered for years and "has been an eyesore," Gary redevelopment director Christopher Harris told the Chicago Tribune.
The proposed $1.1 million would cover demolition and site clearance, giving city leaders a clean slate to work with on the property. For now, officials say there are no immediate redevelopment plans ready to go, only the chance to stop the building from dragging down the surrounding blocks.
Airport Expansion And The UPS Tie-In
At the airport, officials have been piecing together state and federal grants to speed up a cargo expansion that has been years in the making. Industry reporting notes that the State of Indiana allocated about $9.82 million to accelerate Phase 1 of the project, allowing the airport to build eight wide-body aircraft parking spots at once, according to Aviation Pros.
The Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority also highlights its relationship with UPS as a cornerstone of the cargo strategy. UPS began cargo operations there in November 2020 and agreed to a long-term extension in 2024, a partnership airport officials say has been central to drawing hangars, utilities, and other private investment, according to a Gary/Chicago International Airport press release.
Mrvan Frames It As Jobs Investment
Mrvan is pitching the federal entries as a straight-ahead jobs play. He called the awards an investment in employment and economic growth, saying the projects could "bring new businesses, create good-paying jobs, and open the door to new passenger services," according to the Chicago Tribune.
Local leaders have welcomed the focus on infrastructure and long-blighted sites, while also noting that environmental reviews, design work, and local matching requirements will decide how quickly any shovels actually hit the ground.
What Comes Next
The dollar figures appear in the committee report tied to H.R. 4552, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. None of the projects sees a dime unless the full appropriations process plays out in both chambers and a final bill reaches the president's desk.
Congress.gov notes that the report includes dozens of community project requests from across the country. Cutting the committee report is a significant step for Gary and Michigan City, but it is still only a step on a fairly long path.
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