Times of Northwest Indiana
Will Cabela's become a casualty to inertia often plaguing promising proposals for building a better Northwest Indiana.
On too many occasions- Planet Park, multi-county tourism bureau - we fail to work together for the good of our community.
Now comes the offer by giant retailer Cabela's to buy the Woodmar Country Club in Hammond. It wants to build a store that will employ hundreds and attract thousands to its destination-like sports center.
For months the talks have gone back and forth. The price has escalated. Nostalgia for the old-style country club led some members to oppose the sale.
This week, members of the club are to vote on Cabela's $14 million offer. It appears to be a fair price for the land that could be developed along Interstate 80/94.
Most thought until early last week the sale was finally a done deal. An approving vote seemed certain.
And then comes the smoking gun. A letter from an Oak Brook developer loaded with unproven allegations and lots of innuendo,
It has some Woodmar members wanting to delay the vote. For others it is seen for what it appears to be, a last-minute tactic to disrupt the sale.
After several days of investigation by The Times, the unanswered questions about the validity of the smoking gun allegations are growing.
For that reason, Woodmar's members should look to the greater good of the proposal before them.
Cabela's, a family operated company with a sterling reputation, is ready to plop down the cash to buy Woodmar. It has committed to develop the land in a manner benefiting Hammond - jobs, tax revenue, spending by thousands visiting the area.
In contrast, the Oak Brook developer offers no concrete plan in the letter for developing the Woodmar property should they acquire it. Who knows what would be built on the site of the country club? Another Wal-Mart?
And what value in creating jobs or ancillary revenue would there be - if any - from a project that has been suggested but has no supporting details? Lots of smoke, no fire or substance.
Clearly, Cabela's is a world-class retailer with a proven track record. Many communities have wooed Cabela's, locally including St. John, Crown Point and Hobart, wanting the company to help build their economy.
Hammond will be the loser if Woodmar's members let such a plumb project die because of scare tactics littered with innuendo and unanswered questions.
Cabela's has set a deadline for its final offer to be accepted, certainly assuring Hammond will lose the multimillion-dollar project if Woodmar's members fail to act this week.
And, so, will Cabela's be yet another casualty of Northwest Indiana's inability to seize opportunities, to work cooperatively and look to the greater good of the community?
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