Loan Boosted For Northwest Indiana Church Ruins Cleanup

Associated Press

City Methodist Church, as it appeared in 2009.
*Peter Fitzgerald/CC-BY-3.0*

GARY, Ind. (AP) — Development officials have boosted a loan for removing asbestos from a ruined Gary, Indiana, church that officials hope to turn into a tourist attraction.

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority originally approved a $64,000 loan for asbestos abatement at the dilapidated City Methodist Church.

But The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports the development authority increased the loan to $100,000 on Thursday to help drain rainwater that accumulated in the ruins this spring and help with asbestos removal.

The Gothic-style church built in the 1920s closed in 1975 after years of declining membership.

Gary officials aim to transform it into a European-style ruins garden and tourist attraction. They say the City Church Ruins Garden will become one of the nation's largest such gardens, will boost tourism and provide a public green space.

Tags:Gary tourism

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

Dozens of women leaders demand action from Indiana Democratic Party on harassment and abuse

More than three dozen women have sent a letter to Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl demanding a plan to hold sexual harassers and abusers accountable.