Mayor Melton’s Vision for a “Greater Gary” Secured as City Council Approves Transformative 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update

GARY, IN – The City of Gary reached a pivotal moment in its revitalization efforts as the City Council officially adopted the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update. This strategic 10-year roadmap provides the foundational vision for new development, policy decisions, and public investment, directly supporting Mayor Eddie D. Melton’s agenda to stabilize neighborhoods, grow the population, and build generational wealth.

The Comprehensive Plan Update, which was developed through extensive community engagement, formalizes the Melton Administration’s commitment to an equitable and economically vibrant future.

“The approval of this Comprehensive Plan is a tremendous victory for every resident who believes in the boundless potential of Gary,” said Mayor Melton. “This update marks the first Comprehensive Plan the city has adopted since 2019, making this document not just a vision, but a coordinated commitment to immediate action. It gives us the tools to leverage our greatest assets—our proximity to Chicago, our modern infrastructure, and the resilient spirit of our people—to attract investment and chart a new course toward a self-sustaining economy.”

The newly adopted plan, provides clear direction in four key areas championed by Mayor Melton: Stabilizing Neighborhoods, Supporting Growth, Improving Quality of Life, and Planning for Long-Term Success.

Key strategic initiatives formalized in the plan include:

• Blight Elimination and Redevelopment: The plan targets vacant and underutilized properties for transformation backed by major funding, including the $12M Blight Elimination Strategy administered in partnership with the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA). This critical effort clears the way for infill development and neighborhood renewal.

• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): The plan leverages catalytic infrastructure investments, particularly the modernized South Shore Line. It focuses on maximizing development around the new Miller Station and the planned Downtown Gary Metro multimodal transit center, prioritizing walkable, mixed-use housing, and business growth.

• Housing and Land Use Innovation: To grow the city’s population and tax base, the plan introduces the concept of “missing middle” housing — such as townhomes and cottage courts—designed to stabilize core neighborhoods and efficiently reuse former school sites and vacant parcels with neighborhood-compatible housing options.

• Economic Anchors: The plan establishes a new “Destination” land use, such as the upcoming Lake County Convention Center adjacent to the Hard Rock Casino, that reinforces Gary’s anchor institutions and promotes mixed-use development around those properties.  

• The Comprehensive Plan serves as the strategic framework for realizing key projects, ensuring that all public investment—from infrastructure upgrades to park revitalization—moves the city forward with purpose and coordination.
  

Mayor Melton concluded, “Now that this roadmap is secured, the real work accelerates. We have the vision, we have the community’s backing, and we have the policy framework to deliver on our promise of a ‘Greater Gary’ for this generation and the next.”

“This Comprehensive Plan positions Gary to grow sustainably strengthening housing options, guiding responsible development, protecting the integrity of our existing neighborhoods while building on all the assets that make Gary a destination - Marquette Park, IN Dunes National Park, Hard Rock Casino and Convention Center, and the Railcats Stadium- just to name a few. It provides the framework to ensure every investment supports long-term stability and equitable revitalization.” Stated Council President and 1st District Councilwoman Lori Latham.

About the City of Gary: The City of Gary, Indiana, is dedicated to revitalizing its neighborhoods, growing its economy, and building a foundation of generational wealth for its residents. Led by Mayor Eddie D. Melton, the city is focused on coordinated strategic planning and leveraging regional partnerships to drive sustainable, equitable growth.

Media Contact:

Steve Segura,  
Chief Communications Officer  
ofc: 219-293-0101
cell:219-670-8072
em:Stsegura@gary.gov  

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