Indiana Landmarks has kickstarted a new vision for Gary Roosevelt High School with a $7,750 award to a Chicago architectural firm for redesign options for the historic school.
The Roosevelt project was one of several historic structures among the $6 million awarded by Indiana Landmarks last year to nonprofits and cities in Indiana to save meaningful places.
The grants support efforts from architectural assessments and repairs to programs, workshops, videos, and digital walking tours promoting preservation and heritage.
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Whiting received a $90,000 capital grant to repair stained-glass windows in the church sanctuary.
It also received $4,000 for a facilities study to establish rehabilitation priorities at the church, built in 1917 at 2011 Clark St.
The Calumet Heritage Partnership received $2,900 to develop a video series highlighting Chesterton’s significant historic structures.
Last year, the Gary School Board approved a two-year memorandum of understanding with Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program to develop an adaptive reuse plan for the school.
Landmarks has tapped Arda Design, a Chicago architecture, restoration, and planning firm to develop redesign options for Roosevelt, which closed in 2019.
The organization is expected to hold community engagement sessions and surveys to gain input from stakeholders.
In May last year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation included Roosevelt on its list of 11 Most Endangered Places, a recognition its supporters point to as they try to repurpose the iconic building built for Black students in the 1920s during the country’s Jim Crow segregation era.
The school spans 700,000 square feet and could house up to 4,000 students. Today, the entire Gary district has about 4,400 students.
Eunice Trotter, director of Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program, said last year a project manager would be provided and a team, including local and state archivists and preservationists would review the building’s contents.
Trotter estimated costs at about $30,000 for an air quality assessment and the community engagement effort.
St. Mary Byzantine Church launched a $1.6 million restoration campaign last year at the church, founded in 1898 by Eastern European immigrants. So far, it’s raised $225,000, according to its website.
It’s believed to be the oldest Eastern Catholic church in Indiana and Chicagoland.
“We’re extremely grateful that with the support of many generous donors we’re able to offer this critical funding to local groups and others engaged in preserving the state’s meaningful places,” said Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.