Gary Common Council President Ronald Brewer said Tuesday he was upset with changes that have occurred in recent weeks to the proposal to develop a new truck stop at Burr Street and Interstate 80/94.
Those changes include replacing a proposed full-service restaurant with a Wendy’s hamburger franchise and the demolition, rather than relocation, of seven houses currently on the property. Brewer said he thought the proposed restaurant — Golden Corral – as well as the retention of the homes, were among the highlights of the project.
“I feel like we have been hijacked,” Brewer said. “I don’t like that we went through this process and things are changing now.
“What we had hoped to get for the community is now not going to happen,” he said.
Despite those concerns, Brewer was among five of the nine Common Council members who on voted Tuesday to approve a measure that officially vacates Gerry Street south of the interstate highway to make room for the project, a Flying J Travel Center.
It will be owned by Missouri-based Aerogas, which already operates a Mr. Fuel gas station near the site.
Gary Radtke, an engineer for the project, could not explain why Golden Corral pulled out of the project. He said the homes will not be relocated because of Gary officials refused to sign off on building permits by Jan. 1, which he said makes their demolition the only possible option if construction is to begin later this year.
Four council members voted against the measure — at-large Councilman Kyle Allen, 5th Ward Councilwoman Linda Barnes-Caldwell, 2nd Ward Councilman Michael Protho and 4th Ward Councilwoman Carolyn Rogers.
But the others followed the lead of 3rd Ward Councilwoman Mary Brown, who said Tuesday’s vote was merely to vacate Gerry Street – and not to approve the project as a whole.
Radtke agreed, noting the council would still have to sign off on a site plan before the project could advance. He said he expected a request by developers for such a hearing would be made during the next two weeks and a hearing would be held within a month.
Developers want to build the first phase of the proposed truck stop later this year. It would include the restaurant and multiple gas pumps. A second phase is not yet definite, but Radtke said a truck wash facility and a maintenance center are in preliminary plans. .
In other business, the Common Council voted 9-0 to approve a measure closing off an alley along Monroe to Madison streets and 11th to 12th avenues. Officials at the Sojourner Truth House want to build a structure on that block providing 40 apartment-style housing units for abused women and their children who would otherwise be homeless.
Sister Peg Spindler told the council the effort was one of several projects the Sojourner Truth House is overseeing to reduce homelessness in Gary. Past efforts have focused on military veterans and homeless families.
Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
