The Lake County Board of Commissioners opened two bids Wednesday for the development, construction and operations of a Lake County Convention Center.
The Hard Rock Casino in partnership with the City of Gary and Garfield Public/PrIvate LLC and the City of Hobart submitted bids to partner with the county to establish a convention center. The Hard Rock Casino proposed a convention center next to its existing casino in Gary and Garfield Public/Private LLC and the City of Hobart proposed a convention center at Patriot Park, which is in the I-65 and U.S. 30 interchange development zone, according to bid documents.
Lake County Commission President Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said a couple studies have found a need for a convention center in Lake County. The opening of the bids was “an important milestone” in the process, he said.
A convention center would bring about economic development to Lake County, Repay said.
“The ability to bring tourists, tourism, economic development dollars and visitors to the region,” Repay said.
The two proposals represent sites that finished first and second in a March market study of potential sites for the convention center — Hobart’s Patriot Park at 7800 Mississippi Street ranked first, followed by the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana site in Gary. Other recommended sites included the old Century Mall on the south side of U.S. 30 in Merrillville, the former Radisson Star Plaza site in Merrillville, and Kennedy Avenue at Interstate 94 in Hammond.
The Hard Rock Casino’s proposal for a convention center would be a 145,000-square-foot building, which includes a 40,000-square-foot exhibit hall, an 18,000-square-foot ballroom and two pre-function rooms. The second floor will have two meeting rooms and administrative offices, and the roof will have an outdoor deck, according to bid documents.
The nearby West End development includes two new high-end restaurants, two hotels and multiple residential buildings, according to bid documents.
As State Senator, current Gary Mayor Eddie Melton authored a bill that was signed into law in May 2023 by Governor Eric Holcomb establishing the Lake County Convention and Economic Development Fund. The fund has been designated for the creation of a convention center in Lake County, the Blighted Property Demolition Fund, and the revitalization of the Gary Metro Station to complement the South Shore Double Tracking project, according to bid documents.
Gary’s location, international airport, proximity to the Indiana Dunes National Park and access to I-65 make it an ideal space for the Lake County Convention Center, Melton said in the documents,
“By joining forces with Hard Rock, the highest performing gaming venue in the State of Indiana, this top-tier convention space is poised to be a tremendous success. This world-class hospitality venue will be a crowning jewel, not only for the City of Gary, but for Lake County and The Region,” Melton said.
Hard Rock CEO Matt Schuffert said in the documents that the center will be a huge economic driver for the entire county.
“We are excited for this opportunity to partner with the City of Gary to offer a best-in-class proposal, focusing on Hard Rock’s world class hospitality experience mixed with our site’s ideal location and access to key roadways. This is a generational opportunity for Lake County to further develop itself financially, culturally and socially, and Hard Rock is excited to be part of that,” Schuffert said.
Garfield Public/Private LLC and the City of Hobart propose a 150,000-square foot convention center with 250-room hotel. On the complex, the plan outlines 48 units of 3-story multi-family homes and eight units of 2-story multi-family homes, according to the bid documents.
In a letter submitted with the bid, Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun said the city has a “strong interest in establishing a flagship tourist destination” at Patriot Park in conjunction with Garfield Public/Private LLC.
Since the 1970s, with the plan of Southlake Mall taking shape, the Route 30 corridor has been identified by Hobart city officials as a unique opportunity for development, Huddlestun said.
About 15 years ago, the County Redevelopment Commission invested over $7 million in infrastructure to position the area for growth, Huddlestun said. The development was delayed because of a lawsuit but “everything happens for a reason,” he said.
“This area has always been at the heart of Lake County,” Huddlestun said. “In considering regional development, it’s essential to recognize that each municipality plays a vital role in making regionalism work.”
With the Southlake Mall’s tax appeal a burden has been placed on the city, schools and the county, with over $90 million owed, Huddlestun said. “Breathing new life” into the area will help the city “protect what we already have here,” he said.
“This project will revitalize the Route 30 corridor, transforming it into a premier entertainment destination and opening the floodgates for future development,” Huddlestun said.
Repay said the commissioners will hold a special meeting in the coming weeks to hear presentations from the companies that submitted bids. They aren’t required to accept either bid under the process laid out by the Senate bill.
