State lawmakers are making it easier for Gary to potentially sell the approximately 7,000 largely vacant and abandoned residential and commercial properties owned by the city.
Under current law, Indiana municipalities typically must obtain two independent appraisals for each parcel of real property set for disposal.
However, Senate Enrolled Act 232 allows only Gary to hire a single appraiser to calculate each year through 2029 the value of 10 residential properties, as well as 10 commercial properties, located throughout the Steel City.
Gary can then use the average value of each type of property to set an annual minimum offering price for all of the residential and commercial properties the city wants to sell, without incurring the cost of additional appraisals for each parcel, according to the legislation.
"Being able to swiftly sell thousands of vacant properties will allow Gary to continue its transformation and bring more folks to our Region. The success of this bill is a testament to the fact that Northwest Indiana is an economic engine of our state," said state Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary, the sponsor.
Mayor Eddie Melton, a Democrat who served in the Indiana Senate from 2016 to 2023, also said he hopes the change will make it easier for the city to sell unused properties for new homes and businesses that will help bring more new residents to Gary.
"Today marks a defining moment for the city of Gary. With the passage of Senate Bill 232, we are replacing outdated hurdles with a clear, streamlined path to growth. For too long, our city was trapped by a system that required millions of dollars in appraisals just to put land back into the hands of our people. Today, we break that cycle," Melton said.
The legislation specifies that Gary city officials and employees are prohibited from purchasing a property included among those selected for the appraisal baseline.
It was approved 93-2 by the House Monday after passing the Senate, 44-0, in January. The plan next goes to Gov. Mike Braun to be signed into law.
Besides Spencer, the sponsors of the proposal included state Sens. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland; Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso; Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago; and Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores; and state Reps. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point; Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago; and Vernon Smith, D-Gary.
The new statute is scheduled to take effect July 1 once it's enacted by the governor.
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