REPORT ON THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE GRAND CALUMET RIVER REMEDIATION PROJECT: Evidence from the Gary Housing Market by Daniel P. McMillen Professor of Economics and Director, Center for Urban Real Estate Department of Economics University of Illinois at Chicago for Delta Institute Chicago, Illinois June 2003 Delta Institute 53 West Jackson Blvd Suite 230 Chicago, Illinois 60604 312 554 0900 www.delta-institute.org
[email protected] This report has been printed using soy-based ink on 100% recycled post consumer pulp produced in a chlorine-free pulping and bleaching process. The cover of this report has been printed on 30% post consumer U.S. Currency, 70% post industrial recovered cotton, processed chlorine free. 1 Economic Benefits of the Grand Calumet River Remediation Project: Evidence from the Gary Housing Market A Report Prepared for the Delta Institute June 18, 2003 Daniel P. McMillen Professor of Economics Department of Economics (MC 144) University of Illinois at Chicago 601 S. Morgan St. Chicago, IL 60607 312-413-2100 Fax: 312-996-3344 E-mail:
[email protected] 2 Executive Summary This report summarizes the results of a formal analysis of the economic benefits of the U. S. Steel Corporation’s Grand Calumet River Remediation Project, which will remove highly-contaminated sediments from the 5-mile east branch of the Grand Calumet River running through Gary, Indiana. The analysis was conducted to estimate the economic benefits of the sediment remediation project, and is the first phase of a conceptual redevelopment master plan for the east branch of the river, conducted by a partnership between the Delta Institute, the Grand Calumet Task Force, and City of Gary.