A proposed speculative big box warehouse development bordered by Carolina Place, 73rd Avenue, Merrillville High School and Interstate 65 in Merrillville received a less than lukewarm response Thursday from residents invited to an informational meeting on the project.
Trammel Crow Co., of Oak Brook, Illinois, would like to take the property it owns and build two buildings for commercial warehousing and is seeking a zone change from residential to light industrial.
About 20 people, including Merrillville Councilman Shawn Pettit, D-6th, listened to the proposal and raised their concerns about the impact the proposal would have on traffic in the area, home values and safety for students attending the nearby schools. Letters were sent to 25 residents who live on Carolina Place adjacent to the parcel.
Joe Noon, vice president of Trammel Crow, said the company wants to build two warehousing buildings at the site. The first would be 318,190 square feet, have 313 parking spaces, 87 loading docks and 11 trailer stalls. The second would be 505,440 square feet with 503 parking spaces, 100 loading docks and 98 trailer stalls.
The project would include widening 73rd Avenue with a dedicated right-hand turn lane into the complex for trucks traveling west from Interstate 65 and adding some type of traffic signaling, either a stop light or stop sign with flashing red light. Traffic modifications would come after a traffic study to be conducted if the plan moves forward.
“In theory, there would never be trucks stacking on 73rd Avenue,” Noon said.
The company would serve as landlord for the property and maintain responsibility for landscaping, snow and trash removal so tenants could easily switch over time and the appearance of the property does not negatively impact the neighborhood.
Delyce Starks, who lives in neighboring Chapel Manor, expressed concern about trucks using U.S. 30 to Broadway, both truck routes, to get to 73rd Avenue and head east instead of using Interstate 65 to access the facility.
“I’m still concerned,” Starks said following the meeting.
Some questioned the impact on property values.
Bryon Mesarch said residents’ property values may not go down on paper, but that does not mean they would retain their value.
“Who wants to buy a house next to a warehouse?” he asked. “If you can’t sell it, it ain’t worth nothing.”
Jerry Carroll said he had lingering questions following the meeting. He said he moved into the neighborhood because of the open space but understands development must move forward. He questioned whether an industrial use would be the best for the land or if it should remain residential.
Lou Mikolics, who owns the 350-acre Merrillville Farms blueberry farm, said he doesn’t have a problem with a light industrial use. Mikolics said his best neighbor is Bushnell, a similar light industrial user. He complained about neighboring residents whose trash, like diapers, wind up on his land.
“I see this is as very likable situation,” Mikolics said.
Pettit said his support for the project would be based on what neighboring residents want. If the majority of those who came out to the presentation oppose the project, his vote will follow suit.
“I’m hearing what the constituents are saying. You can tell where I’m leaning,” he said.
The councilman advised the company to take a hard look at the comments by residents before moving forward with spending more money on things like traffic studies in case the proposal does not succeed. He described I-65 as the town’s dividing line with light industrial located to the east and residential located the west. He questioned whether the zoning change would be appropriate.
Pettit said the company could go forward with a residential development in the area, as was planned by another developer in 2007 before the housing crisis began. That deal fell through but was expected to bring 95 homes to the site.
Noon said sometimes a residential development could impact traffic more than a commercial development due to the density.
“Traffic from 95 homes is always more substantial than people recognize,” Noon said.
Trammel Crown would not have to seek any input to go forward with a housing development, because the zoning currently is residential.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
