The construction of a new Gary Animal Control facility is representative of what the city could grow into, according to Supervisor of Animal Control Officer Marzilla Randoph.
“The shelter is more than a building,” Randolph said. “It represents a city of compassion, responsibility and progress. I’m proud to be part of this moment for our city, and I look forward to the positive impact that this facility will have for years to come.”
In a Thursday news conference, the city of Gary announced its plans for the new facility’s construction, including a $500,000 donation from Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana. The donation matches $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds that the city set aside more than a year ago.
Remaining funds will come from existing Gary community development and animal shelter allocations. The new shelter is a $1.4 million project, Mayor Eddie Melton said Thursday.
“Replacing the facility has been a top priority for our administration, and it’s something that we’ve been working on since day one,” Melton said. “I’m proud to say that we’re making action as we speak.”
Melton and other officials said the current animal shelter facility is “severely deteriorating.” The new building, which will be located at 950 Jefferson Street, will feature indoor and outdoor kennels, quarantine spaces, administrative offices and storage areas.
“It’ll be almost double the square footage compared to the facility we have now,” Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon said. “It’ll provide a safer, more modern facility for the animals we care for. … Public safety is strongest when the community works together. When we invest in services like animal control, we are investing in the quality of life, our neighborhoods, our families and these animals that share the city with us.”
The city plans to open the bidding process for construction in the next two months, Melton said, and he plans for construction to start this summer. WDi Architecture, a Indianapolis-based firm, is developing the building’s design.
According to Post-Tribune archives, the Gary Common Council approved the use of ARPA funds for the animal shelter on Dec. 10, 2024. ARPA funds had to be obligated by the end of 2024 and must be used by the end of this year.
When it became law in March 2021, ARPA provided about $350 billion in additional funding to state and local governments, according to the Government Finance Officers Association. Eligible uses of funds include revenue replacement, COVID-19 expenditures, premium pay for essential workers, and investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. ARPA funds can’t be used to directly or indirectly offset tax reductions and can’t be deposited into a pension fund.
The city originally asked for $1 million in ARPA funds before Melton said the city planned to seek private donors for the remaining costs, according to Post-Tribune archives.
“A project of this magnitude doesn’t happen alone,” Melton said. “It requires partnerships … And this is about the future of the city.”
Matt Schuffert, president and CEO of Hard Rock, said that since the casino opened in May 2021, its staff has committed to investing in Gary’s future.
“This new facility will help turn a longstanding need into a transformative investment into Gary,” Schuffert said. “We’re also proud to partner with this administration and this leadership team throughout the city of Gary. … Great things are happening in Gary, and we’re just very proud to be a small part in all of that.”
