Broadway’s downtown corridor in Gary is coming alive with fresh lavender and other plants as part of the city’s Broadway beautification project.
Workers planted lavender in concrete planters along the tree-lined west section of 6th Avenue and Broadway during the morning on July 30.
Scheduled to begin in June, redevelopment director Christopher Harris said it got a late start while city workers got Broadway ready for the July 4th parade.
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In-house city workers also had to be trained in the plant maintenance and watering schedules, he said.
Flowers will be planted from 4th to 9th avenues, Harris said.
Landscape workers will trim, clean and remove trees, plant new trees, annuals, perennials and bulbs, and add mulch, hanging plants and potted plants along the corridor.
“We’ve seen what other communities are doing and this is the first step for us,” Harris said citing landscaping efforts in Valparaiso, Hobart and other cities.
Harris said Mayor Eddie Melton supported the beautification project.
“It was the mayor’s priority that we begin to beautify the Broadway corridor,” said Harris.
The project dovetails with the upcoming demolition of the Genesis Convention Center, at 5th and Broadway and the former Gordon’s department store at 8th and Broadway.
As part of Gary’s Blight Elimination Program, established by Melton when he served as a state lawmaker, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority awarded a $2.87 million bid in June to McDonagh Demolition for the demolition of multiple structures in the Gary Metro Transit Development District including Gordon’s, an annex, and the Genesis Center and its parking garage.
Harris said the parking area around the Genesis Center has been closed off and demolition should begin in the coming weeks of August.
“By eliminating long-standing blight and preparing these sites for future investment, we are building a stronger, more vibrant city for our residents and positioning Gary for long-term economic success,” Melton said in June following the contract award.
Harris said because of the downtown blight, the city wants to get into the habit of maintaining and beautifying its important corridor.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.