The Lake County Board of Commissioners has about six months to decide between two projects for the Lake County Convention Center, officials said.
Under previous state law, the commissioners had until the end of this year to decide on a convention center proposal, but an updated version of the law pushed the deadline for a final decision to May 31, 2025, said commissioner’s attorney Matthew Fech.
Commissioner Michael Repay, D-3rd, said the commissioners appreciate having more time to consider the two proposals from Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana with the City of Gary and Garfield Public/Private LLC with the City of Hobart. But, Repay said he would like the board to make a decision within the first quarter of 2025.
“I think it gives us the right amount of time to consider the two proposals,” Repay said. I wouldn’t be looking forward to going to the May, basically June, deadline.”
Earlier this month, developers and city officials with each project presented their proposals to the board.
Land just north of U.S. 30 on the west side of Mississippi Ave. in Hobart is now being considered as a site for the new Lake County Convention Center. (Suzanne Tennant / Post-Tribune)
Hard Rock Casino in partnership with the City of Gary has proposed a convention center next to its existing casino in Gary. The proposal would be for 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.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said during the presentation that when he was State Senator he authored a bill, which was signed into law, 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.
“It’s coming full circle for me as mayor,” Melton said. “(The law), which is the reason why we are here today, allows us to capture the wagering tax growth from Hard Rock Casino right in Gary, Indiana to invest into this project.”
The casino and the city have formed a private, public partnership, Melton said, and partnered with other companies and organizations to develop and construct the convention center. Hard Rock has committed to pay $1.5 million annually for 20 years toward the convention center, Melton said.
If approved, Melton said the convention center would have the ability to source more than $5 million in funding, which would allow for a full $5 million state match. The operational plan does not include an increase in innkeeper’s tax, he said.
If developed, Melton said the convention center would be more of an entertainment district because it would have space for two hotels and two restaurants, Melton said.
The hotels, which would result in a total of 2,048 hotel rooms around the convention center, would be owned and operated by Hard Rock, said CEO Matt Schuffert.
Garfield Public/Private LLC and the City of Hobart proposed 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.
Officials with Garfield Public/Private LLC said Patriot Park spreads out over 215 acres, of which 25 acres to 30 acres will be dedicated to the convention center. The goal would be to have a block of rooms in the hotel set aside for the convention center guests, said Steve Galbreath, Chief Development Office with Garfield Public/Private LLC.
Raymond Garfield, chairman of Garfield Public/Private LLC, said financing for the convention center would combine public and private funding. The center would pay for its mortgage through bond issuance while also generating funds for the city or county, depending on how the bonds are set up, he said.
Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun said the city’s goal would be to establish a convention center that is unique and will benefit all of Northwest Indiana.
“This is going to impact all of the residents,” Huddlestun said. “This is going to have a huge economic impact to the region as a whole.”
Repay said the commissioners plan to send officials with each proposal a list of questions, in writing, either before the end of the year or early in 2025. Both proposals present multiple benefits for Northwest Indiana, he said.
“They each have components that are highly desirable,” Repay said.
akukulka@post-tribune.com
