A proposed youth services and counseling agency and gas station and convenience store, both of which would be located on Broadway, received Merrillville Plan Commission approval.
Crystal Taylor-Hutch said Wednesday that the nonprofit agency, which would be called Youth With a Purpose Inc., would provide a safe environment for disadvantaged families, support groups, educational and entrepreneurship programs and would assist individuals with finding employment and paying utility bills.
She said those involved in the agency are currently active in the community on a parent-to-parent basis.
“Instead of going to homes, hospitals and churches to mentor children, we have found a spot where we can utilize our programs,” Taylor-Hutch said.
She wants to open the agency at 5437 Broadway.
“A lot of kids have dropped out of school. That’s why they’re hanging out on the street corners. We’re coming to them,” she said.
She said she will have a team of eight people, all of whom received formal education in their fields.
Town Council President Richard Hardaway, D-2nd, who represents the area, gave his support to the agency, but took exception to Taylor-Hutch’s comment about young people hanging out on corners.
“We don’t have a lot of children hanging out at corners. I want to clear that up,” Hardaway said.
He said he supports Taylor-Hutch’s program because it’s about improving quality of life and is in favor of her occupying a now vacant site.
In other matters, Guriqbal Singh received approval to build a new gas station and convenience store at 7269 Broadway.
The current building will be torn down and replaced with a four-pump gas station and 36-foot by 80-foot convenience store. The business will be open from 5 a.m. to midnight.
An attorney for Singh said the property was formerly a gas station for many years.
The BZA also approved View Outdoor Advertising’s request to change a static billboard located on U.S. 30 near Deep River Waterpark to a digital sign on both sides.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
