Despite the rejection from the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals, the GEO Group’s proposal to build a detention center adjacent to the Gary/Chicago International Airport is headed to the Gary Common Council.
On April 12, the BZA rejected a variance request for the project by a 3-1 vote. The Common Council, however, can consider the variance without the BZA’s blessing.
The $80 million center is proposed to sit on 24 acres just north of the airport. David Venturella, GEO vice president, said the center itself would create about 200 jobs and the “hundreds” of construction jobs.
On Friday, the ordinance dealing with the proposal was added to the Common Council meeting’s Tuesday agenda for a first and second reading. Showing up on the council agenda, however, isn’t a guarantee the variance will be approved quickly.
Council President Ron Brewer said the item will likely be sent to the council’s Planning Committee once it comes before the council.
“These are normally the steps we take,” Brewer said. “We have to do our due diligence and determine whether it’s a good fit for the city. I would (consider) especially the tax dollars, the jobs aspect and even the construction, in terms of how many jobs would go to Gary residents?”
Members of the council’s planning committee include Ragen Hatcher, Rebecca Wyatt, Linda Barnes Caldwell, LaVetta Sparks-Wade, and Carolyn D. Rogers.
Councilwoman Rebecca Wyatt said she’s heard a lot of the opposition at several meetings, but the testimony of one witness — Gary Airport Authority Board president Stephen Mays — was significant to her.
“I was most struck by Stephen Mays when he said that the project wouldn’t work with the airport’s development plan,” Wyatt said. “If it’s not good for the airport — which is one of the stronger projects in city — then it doesn’t make sense for the city. I have reached out to a couple of people at the airport, but I haven’t had time to talk to them yet. I expect that once I’m clear on what airport wants then that will help me make my decision.”
Wyatt said that while she may not agree with private prisons as a business model, she has to look at what the project could do for Gary in terms of jobs and property taxes.
Hatcher didn’t respond to a request for comment.
More than a dozen people offered sometimes heated comments on the project at the BZA meeting, with most opposing the plan.
After the meeting, GEO attorney James Wieser said he was surprised by the BZA’s rejection, but he said GEO would continue to seek approval from the city council.
“It’s their call,” he said.
Venturella said he was disappointed “but we’ll continue to follow the process.”
Councilman Herb Smith didn’t think the BZA proceedings were productive, but said it’s important to listen to both sides.
“We have to thoroughly vet this company,” Smith said. “We have to do our homework because some things that I heard in opposition got my attention. We have to see if we can substantiate those things or put them aside.”
