Development plans for the shuttered Alfred Beckman Middle School remain stagnant after the Gary Common Council unanimously sent the proposal back to the planning and development committee. All nine members of the council were present Tuesday — the first time the council has been whole since Januar y. Councilman Myles Tolliver, D-at large, joined Tuesday. Indiana Investment Properties, the petitioner, asked to rezone the former middle school, at 1430 W. 23rd Ave., from R2 residential to a planned unit development, or PUD, and B3-1, which allows for shopping centers or large stores. Heitman Architects would create a “commercial business planned development” that will focus on manufacturing, according to project documents. Gary residents have repeatedly spoken against the potential development, saying they don’t want the project in its proposed location because of its proximity to homes. About 10 people spoke against the project at the council’s Tuesday meeting. Gary resident Carl Champion told council members that the proposed development would be an albatross to the community. “I think it draws against what this community needs,” Champion said. “I think it deviates from any development that could go into this property.” Champion, who is also a local business owner and investor, said he’s concerned for the children in the community. If the development is approved, Champion said, it’ll be dangerous for them to be in an area with large trucks passing through. Citizens have called the project a trucking facility, but Carl Heitman, president of Heitman Architects, and Jim Wieser, attorney for the project, said it’s not a trucking facility. Heitman has said the location was chosen because of its proximity to Interstate 80/94. He told council members Tuesday night that his organization wants to come to Gary, and the city will remain in control of the development process. “I know it’s a very hard decision because it’s going to affect the community,” Heitman said. “That property’s been sitting for 20 years, and we have an opportunity to turn it around.” If the project receives council approval, Heitman hopes to have the Beckman school site cleaned up in about a year. Terri Martin, who lives near the proposed development, has spoken against the project multiple times, including at Tuesday’s council meeting. She told council members that residents have been uninformed throughout the development process. Residents want to meet with developers about the proposed project, but Martin said they canceled a community meeting on Feb. 5 without residents’ knowledge, and another meeting has not yet been scheduled. “There are other places where this can be built south of 25th Avenue,” Martin said. “There’s a wonderful business corridor up there. You bought a cheap piece of property, and you’re trying to windfall off of it.” The project has received an unfavorable opinion from the Gary Plan Commission and zoning staff. Corrie Sharp, primary contact for the Gary Zoning department, said there were five main concerns, including the proximity to single family homes, building height and that it’s uncharacteristic for the area. “If we were to consider this petition, I would definitely want to address those five points,” Sharp said, adding that the company should look at limiting traffic in the area. Multiple council members voiced opinions on the project before voting Tuesday night. Councilman Kenneth Whisenton, D-at large, said he’s concerned with truck traffic in the area. Whisenton also told Heitman that he wants development to happen in the city, but it’s hard to trust that developers will have citizens’ best interests at heart. “This is tough,” Whisenton said. “I want this to happen, I really do. But, in order for it to happen, I do not feel comfortable voting on this today. I would prefer it going back to committee and getting guarantees.” Councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd, said the proposed development would help create more tax revenue within the city, which she argued Gary needs. If the city had more businesses to take the brunt of tax dollars, taxpayers would have to pay less, Brown argued. “I think it is (the responsibility) of the council to find or support those kinds of businesses that will bring revenue into the city,” Brown said. “We talked about not being able to pay departments enough … We can’t pay them if we don’t get tax revenues.” Tolliver said his biggest concern with the proposed development is that it would be in a residential area, and he thought it should go back to committee before being voted on. Brown and Whisenton both said Gary puts commercial properties in residential areas, including a YMCA near Tolleston Park. “The reality is we need more income,” Whisenton said. “We need more tax bases. … Residential (development) will not save the city.” Councilman Dwight Williams, D-6th, said the city needs more businesses to ensure that youth will stay in the city. If Gary has more businesses, that will lead to more jobs to encourage them to stay, Williams said. “We can’t just keep turning our thumbs down when we look at something that’s a possibility to grow,” Williams said. The council’s planning and development committee will next meet at 5:30 p.m. April 8, and they are expected to discuss the proposed development. mwilkins@chicagotribune.com ...read more read less