On an overcast and misty Friday afternoon, what was once a symbol of downtown Gary’s hopes and dreams for a vibrant economic future was transformed into a slowly building pile of twisted steel, bronze and glass debris as demolition equipment methodically gnawed away at the Genesis Convention Center.
A five-man crew from McDonough Demolition watched a pair of back hoes strip away the west side of the building, the material clanking and thumping as it crashed to the ground inside a fenced off area along Adams Street.
Meanwhile, patrons entered the Gary Public Library across the street seemingly paying no mind to the demolition of a building that had long-since failed to deliver on its promise of a downtown revitalization.
Opened in 1981, the Genesis Center hosted a variety of live entertainment, conventions and region-wide events, including concerts by Whitney Houston and Prince, but the facility eventually became a steady drain on city resources.
Two former Genesis Center directors stole money from its coffers in 2017 and 2018, according to Post-Tribune archives. Both pleaded guilty to federal charges. Deborah Black had to pay $16,000 in restitution, while Victoria Wilson agreed to repay the city $12,000 in her plea deal.
The building closed for good in 2020, and vandals started to strip the building of its materials. Its final big event came in 2019 when it welcomed mourners at the funeral of five-term mayor Richard G. Hatcher whose administration built the Genesis Center.
In 2025, the city installed a $9,000 camera security system at the center.
With maintenance costs mounting, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton announced in April that the 45-year-old structure would be demolished along with the adjacent parking garage.
The City of Gary said that the convention center ran “deep deficits for years,” costing taxpayers $8 million “in operational shortfalls over five years alone,” accordingly to a news release. Gary-based Powers and Sons Construction estimated repairs and stabilization costs would exceed $10 million.
Tackling pervasive urban blight, the city is also targeting the demolition of the former Gordon’s Department Store complex, City Methodist Church and St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital.
“From the Genesis Center and Gordon’s to long-standing safety hazards like St. Mary’s Hospital and City Methodist, holding onto unsalvageable buildings has cost our taxpayers millions and stalled our progress,” Melton said in the news release.
A demolition date for the church hasn’t been scheduled, but city officials anticipate a beginning in late October or early November. The city expects complete demolition and site restoration by Aug. 24, 2027.
To spur a new chapter of economic revitalization, the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture is collaborating with Gary on a citywide redevelopment program. Incoming developments include a new public safety facility, mixed-use housing and commercial development, a new metro center and a central civic plaza.
At 5th Avenue and Broadway, the city plans to add 150 residential units, ground-floor retail, and a mini-grocer and dining options, complemented by 90 units at 504 Broadway. The plaza will be an open gathering corridor that connects the Lake County Courthouse and Hudson-Campbell Sports and Fitness Center, which will commemorate the cultural history of the Genesis Center site.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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