The Merrillville Town Council approved a 10-year tax abatement for Crow Holdings Industrial, which is proposing to build five warehouse buildings on 195 acres east of Interstate 65, from 93rd to 101st avenues.
All the warehouses are being built on a speculative basis, with no tenants at the time. The largest building will be more than 1 million square feet.
The council is also considering a request for a $375,000 grant, to be paid in phases, made by Chicago Magnesium Casting Co. The company purchased the former Fieldhouse building in the Ameriplex at the Crossroads and plans to have operations there, Councilman Shawn Pettit, D-6th, said.
The council has not voted on the grant request as yet.
Pettit said Crow Holdings has been a success story at the Ameriplex.
“These are the kinds of developments we want in Ward 6,” Pettit said.
The company’s warehouses at the Ameriplex house Quality Pasta and Midwest Truck & Auto. A Crow Holdings representative said Big Lots will be taking up another entire warehouse.
Angie Chilcott, director of economic development, said Chicago Magnesium plans to refurbish and expand the former Fieldhouse building. Its total investment — including real estate, renovations and special equipment — will be $9.25 million, she said.
She said the company plans to bring 20 existing employees and add 25 new ones to the Merrillville facility.
According to its website, Chicago Magnesium produces castings for the aerospace industry.
It’s currently located in Blue Island, Illinois. In October, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker visited the Blue Island facility to celebrate its expansion there, according to the website.
In other matters, the council voted to seek qualifications from companies to do a traffic study on Whitcomb Street, from 91st Avenue to U.S. 30. Plan commission and council members have expressed concern about the road, which has a dangerous curve and has been the scene of several accidents, with two major housing developments proposed in the area.
“Unless we get started with a traffic study, we can’t get the ball rolling,” Council President Rick Bella, D-5th, said.
He said the council would investigate the proper funding to pay for the funding.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
