MARCH 2016

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT 2 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS

0 Executive Summary ...... 5 1 Introduction ...... 9 2 City & Neighborhood Overview ...... 13 City of Gary ...... 14 Glen Park & University Park ...... 16 University Park East ...... 18 3 Circulation ...... 41 4 Public Utilities ...... 53 5 Community Facilities & Services ...... 59 Parks ...... 60 Public Libraries ...... 63 Police/Fire ...... 63 Services & Amenities ...... 67 Education ...... 69 6 Anchor Institutions ...... 79 7 Employers ...... 83 8 Health & Wellness ...... 91 9 Previous Planning Efforts & Reports ...... 97

Appendix: Neighborhood Resident Survey ...... 106 Appendix: Stakeholder Interviews ...... 123

MARCH 2016 3 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

0 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The City of Gary, Legacy Foundation, and Gary Franklin school site, and Broadway. • With a declining population and Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) were In addition to these three areas, a significant vacancy, the City is challenged awarded a 2015 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative significant number of currently vacant and to deliver quality public services. Across (CNI) Planning Grant for the University Park-East underutilized parcels could be assembled all public services, residents rated them (UP-East) neighborhood. A program of the U.S. to support new development. very low, including trash pick-up and Department of Housing and Urban Development police/fire/EMS response. • Interest exists in moving to UP-East if the (HUD), the CNI program focuses on the creation of neighborhood is improved, and includes • Flooding is major concern in the northern community-driven, action-oriented comprehensive the development of new homeownership portion of the neighborhood due to a neighborhood revitalization plans for distressed and student housing. However, in high water table, combined sanitary and communities. addition to new housing, concurrent sewer system, and levees east and west of improvements are needed to support the City. This Existing Conditions Assessment is intended growth (e.g. public amenities, retail, to provide a baseline understanding of where the • Addressing vacant/abandoned homes is neighborhood perceptions). UP-East neighborhood is today with regard to the number one improvement cited by physical and social conditions. This analysis will neighborhood residents. inform the determination of priority areas that will be addressed in the “Blueprint for Change” for UP-East is well connected to the region, but has poor connectivity within the neighborhood the UP-East community. The rate of violent crime has dropped itself. The analysis in this report is based upon primary dramatically over the last year, but the and secondary sources of information, including • With good access to I-80/94 and I-65, and neighborhood is still perceived to be unsafe by on-the ground observations, stakeholder numerous public bus routes running along both residents and non-residents. interviews, and third-party collected data. or through the neighborhood, UP-East • Currently, the violent crime rate in the Additionally, a Neighborhood Resident Survey was is ideally located to get to other parts of neighborhood is half the City-wide rate conducted to collect current information about northwest Indiana. (4.6 v. 9.3). While residents generally do perceptions and needs in the community from • The quality of the transportation feel safe in the neighborhood during both residents that live in and outside of the UP- infrastructure within the neighborhood is the day, the need for better safety was East neighborhood. poor with many areas having deteriorated strongly voiced during community or non-existent sidewalks, no dedicated meetings. However, incidence of property A summary of key findings include: bicycle lanes or sharrows, and a lack of bus crime is on par, or slightly above the city signage and shelters. average. Some market potential does exist for the UP- East neighborhood. Much of the housing stock is in poor condition, • Improved safety was tied with more both occupied and unoccupied, affecting businesses as the top two improvements • There are three potential opportunity the public health of the residents and the needed for a non-resident to consider areas for new development – Colonial neighborhood. This is exacerbated by flooding moving to the neighborhood. Gardens 2 (across from Ivy Tech), vacant issues associated with the Little Calumet River.

6 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT Access to health care is a challenge for many The majority of UP-East children under age 5 Out-of-school time programming for and UP-East residents. are enrolled in a center-based early learning participation among UP-East students is limited. • Rates of medical insurance coverage program. • While the Boys and Girls Club of among neighborhood residents are • With 21 childcare providers and over 400 Northwest Indiana and the City of Gary relatively low compared to the City and slots in and around UP-East, there appears Youth Services Bureau offer programming County. to be sufficient capacity to serve the elsewhere in the City, Ivy Tech offers the only known program in the neighborhood. • Nearly half of UP-East residents report remaining neighborhood children under that they go to one of the local hospitals age 5. • Only 59% of school-age youth are enrolled when in need of health advice rather than • While the quality of some local providers in a youth program. The most common a primary care doctor. could be improved, overall more than half are college preparation programs; sports/ recreation programs; tutoring programs; • Dental services and eye care are the top of the slots are offered by programs with and arts/music programs. More youth two unmet medical needs. high ratings. programs both within the neighborhood and in general were cited as top needs by UP-East students attend many different schools residents. Many UP-East residents suffer from poor throughout the city including public, charter, physical and mental health. and private institutions. While the unemployment rate is high, more households receive earnings from wages than • The rates of chronic disease among UP- • Based upon Census data, approximately the City average. East residents is very high, particularly 1 in 3 UP-East students attend a GCSC asthma, hypertension, and diabetes. School. Performance of the GCSC schools • Even though more households have wage Additionally, UP-East households suffer that UP-East students attend is mixed. earnings, the average median income is from depression or extreme stress/ The vast majority attend either an average low. This suggests that while people are anxiety at higher rates than the general or a low-performing school. working, they are working in low-wage population. jobs. • New Tech Innovative Institute at the Gary • Asthma rates are particularly high among Area Career Center is the only school • The low-wages may be reflective of the families and renters in the neighborhood located in the neighborhood, of which low educational attainment levels among indicating that this may be an issue among only 4% of neighborhood students attend residents. Over 25% do not have a high children and could be correlated with this school. The vast majority of the other school diploma or equivalent. poor rental housing conditions. neighborhood students appear to attend schools at least a mile or more away.

MARCH 2016 7

INTRODUCTION

1 9 INTRODUCTION

In January 2015, the City of Gary, Legacy and a review of the policies that shape daily life PROJECT LOCATION AND CONTEXT Foundation, and Gary Economic Development and physical conditions in the neighborhood. Corporation (GEDC) were awarded a Choice The City of Gary, Indiana, located in the Neighborhoods Initiatives (CNI) planning grant for The City of Gary and its partners will use this southeastern portion of the Chicago Metropolitan the development of a comprehensive revitalization baseline information to understand existing Area, is about 25 miles southeast of Chicago and plan for the University Park-East (UP-East) conditions and resources, articulate a realistic 150 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Gary is the neighborhood, including Colonial Gardens #1 and community vision, establish what is needed for 8th largest city in Indiana with a population of #2. Colonial Gardens #1 and #2 comprise 78-units positive change to occur, and shape their action 80,294. Situated along the southern coast of Lake of scattered-site public housing owned and plan. This baseline information will also be used Michigan, the 57-square-mile city was shaped by managed by the Gary Housing Authority (GHA) to establish measurable outcomes for the resulting the steel industry in the early 1900s, an identity located in the neighborhood. plan, such that as the plan is implemented, the that still endures today. The City is well connected community can assess progress towards goals, to the Midwest via Interstates 80/94, 90, and 65; CNI is a program of the U.S. Department determine the effectiveness of its approach, and the South Shore Line commuter rail; the Gary/ of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) make dynamic changes as needed. Chicago International Airport; numerous freight focused on supporting communities to develop lines; and shipping via Lake Michigan. community-driven, results-oriented neighborhood The Existing Conditions Assessment includes: transformation plans for distressed communities. a review of previous planning studies ranging UP-East is located in the southern portion of With a $500,000 CNI planning grant leveraged from the 2003 and 2013 University Park Plans to the City of Gary. The neighborhood is generally with additional public and private dollars and the broader 2040 Northwest Indiana Regional bounded by I-65 to the east, East Ridge Road/ in-kind resources, the City and its partners are Comprehensive Plan to understand how they West 37th Avenue to the south, Broadway to the engaged in a two-year long planning effort to relate and contribute to UP-East’s future; and data develop a “Blueprint for Change” for UP-East. on physical and social conditions including land west, and I-80/94 to the north. UP-East was includ- The Blueprint for Change will include goals, use, zoning, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, ed in the 2013 University Park Plan that sought to outcomes, strategies and action steps that will transportation, crime, open space, building and integrate neighborhood and campus planning result in sustainable and meaningful investments housing conditions, educational institutions, efforts, facilitate development along key corridors, in UP-East to help it become a vibrant and thriving major employers, and community services. initiate a placemaking strategy, and focus on high community. impact projects. UP-East encompasses 336 acres, The information in this report is supplemented of which nearly 150 acres (44%) are dedicated to with the results of a Neighborhood Resident churches, schools, and public institutions. REPORT PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES Survey conducted between July and October 2015. The survey instrument asked residents in This Existing Conditions Assessment is intended the neighborhood questions ranging from their to serve as a launching point for discussions perceptions of the community to current needs. regarding what physical and human capital Respondents who did not currently live in the improvements and investments are needed in neighborhood were asked about what would UP-East based upon current realities. This report make UP-East a more desirable place to live. A highlights the socio-economic demographics, copy of the survey results and instrument can be physical and social assets, current challenges, found in the Appendix to this report. previous and future plans for the neighborhood,

10 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT REGIONAL CONTEXT

Chicago O’Hare

Chicago Loop

Chicago Midway

Lake Michigan

Indiana Dunes • Proximity to Chicago • 2 Airports Gary Airport • Freight and Shipping UPE • Regionally Connected • Lakeshore

Source: Farr Associates, September 2015

MARCH 2016 11 12 CITY & NEIGHBORHOOD OVERVIEW

2 13 THE CONTEXT

CITY OF GARY foreign manufacturers. The City never recovered provide residents with the tools to implement the the jobs lost in the steel industry and 90 percent changes needed and sustain that change over Recognizing its prime location along Lake of the city's housing stock was built prior to 1980, the long-term. Given limited public resources Michigan and connection to the region’s urban indicating very little new housing development has yet limitless talent and energy at the individual centers, the City of Gary was founded in 1906 taken place in the last 25 years. To address some level, Neighborhood Spotlight seeks to harness by the United States Steel Corporation and of these challenges, dilapidated housing stock and coordinate these individual resources to named after the founding chairman, Elbert Henry is being demolished in some areas and replaced drive transformative change at the neighborhood Gary. The steel industry greatly influenced the with affordable housing and infrastructure level. A collaborative from University Park has City’s development, most noticeably evident improvements, where appropriate. In recent years, participated in Neighborhood Spotlight trainings by the haphazard growth that resulted in as a part of its economic repositioning, the City and begun working on community outreach in residential neighborhoods located next to heavy has made further improvements to the airport; University Park. manufacturing areas, as well as the domination increased transit connections; and leveraged of the lake shore by industry to capitalize on the government programs, tax credits, and grants to growing freight shipping industry. help spur redevelopment. POPULATION CHANGE: CITY OF The City’s boom years occurred during the 1920s In January 2014, Gary was selected to participate GARY 1910-2010 when the population nearly doubled from 52,000 in the Strong Cities Strong Communities (SC2) City of Change in 1920 to 101,000 in 1930. The steel production program. Under SC2, the City is receiving technical Gary demanded by World War I led a substantial assistance for two years from various federal 1910 16,802 -- agencies (HUD, EPA) on redevelopment projects. number of African-Americans to move to Gary 1920 55,378 230% One focal area of the SC2 effort is University Park, to join the workforce. With this population 1930 100,426 81% migration came the onset of racial segregation in of which UP-East comprises the eastern portion of 1940 111,719 11% housing, education, and recreation. World War II the area. 133,911 20% again boomed the steel industry, and helped to 1950 revive the City from the Great Depression of the The Legacy Foundation, the community 1960 178,320 33% 1930s. By 1960, the City’s population peaked at foundation for Lake County, has also begun to 1970 175,415 -2% 178,000 people, encouraging additional industrial play a more substantive community development 1980 151,968 -13% employers to move into the area. role in Gary spurred through the findings in their 1990 116,646 -23% regional indicators report. A key new Legacy 2000 102,7436 -12% initiative is their Neighborhood Spotlight program. Since the explosive population growth in the 1940s 2010 80,294 -22% and '50s, Gary has been steadily losing population. Targeting communities within Gary over the next Source: U.S. Census Bureau By the 1960s, the housing stock had grown older three-to-five years, Neighborhood Spotlight is and less desirable and the white population began focused on effectuating place-based change leaving the City for the suburbs. Employment using a collective impact approach. Selected opportunities began to decline as nationally, communities will receive capacity building and the steel industry faced stiffer competition from external support to establish common goals; and

14 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT GLEN PARK & UNIVERSITY PARK

Source: City of Gary GIS Data, April 2015

MARCH 2016 15 GLEN PARK/UNIVERSITY PARK institutions are attracting student residents • The housing stock is aging. The majority to University Park, which could be built (3,585) of University Park’s 4,109 homes Glen Park is the most populous neighborhood in upon. were built before 1970 (87%). Only 66 new housing units have been constructed in Gary, claiming a quarter of the City’s population • The potential to assemble vacant lots University Park since 1990. with 18,875 residents per the 2010 Census. Glen creates opportunities for new housing Park is bounded by I-80/I-94 to the north, the along strategic corridors that will • Median home values are lower than City of Hobart and I-65 to the east, the Town of strengthen the neighborhood. elsewhere in the region for comparable Merrillville to the south, and Grant Street to the units, and current home values are • Larger parcels of vacant land within the west. Broadway divides the neighborhood into likely too low to spur construction of neighborhood and along the Broadway Glen Park East and West. new market-rate, for-sale single-family corridor provide opportunities for new homes without significant subsidies. The types of housing to meet the community’s University Park is a subset of Glen Park, going median home value in 2010 was $60,100 needs. only as far south as Ridge Road. Like Glen Park, in University Park East and $67,700 in Broadway also acts as the dividing corridor University Park West. between University Park East and West. The name CHALLENGES FOR UNIVERSITY PARK University Park is derived from the presence of • Current rents are likely too low to support INCLUDE: the Indiana University Northwest (IUN) and Ivy unsubsidized market-rate development. The median gross rent in University Park Tech Community College, the only two higher • Population in the area has continued West was $623/month in 2010; University educational institutions in Gary, in the area. to decline. University Park lost 2,508 Park East saw median gross rents of $838/ residents, or 24% of its population, month during the same period. OPPORTUNITIES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE between 2000 and 2010. Population loss UNIVERSITY PARK PLAN 2013 FOR THE AREA was less severe east of Broadway, where • There are many vacant lots and larger INCLUDE: the decrease was 20%. In percentage tracts of vacant land where residential terms, this level of population decline is blocks were not completed. There are • Growing employment and enrollment similar to that for the 1990 - 2000 period, 662 vacant parcels in University Park, at IUN and Ivy Tech represent a when population in the University Park corresponding to a 23% vacancy rate. potential target market for new housing area dropped by 26%. development. • There are few housing options for single • There are many vacant housing units people, small families, or seniors who do • Roughly 590 college or graduate students in the area. Of University Park’s 1,486 not want a single-family home. live in the area; this is a small percentage housing units, 1,037 (70%) were occupied of total college enrollment in University in 2010. The stock of 449 vacant housing Park. However, college students as a units includes 155 units (35%) that are percent of total population in University available for rent and 70 (16%) available Park are higher than Lake County as a for purchase. whole, indicating that the educational

16 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT UNIVERSITY PARK

Source: GaryMaps.com, April 2015

MARCH 2016 17 CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD OVERVIEW

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST

University Park East (UP-East), a subset of University Park, is generally bounded by I-80/94 to the north, I-65 to the east, East Ridge Road/West 37th Avenue to the south, and Broadway to the west. Broadway serves as the primary commercial corridor for the neighborhood. Entirely within its boundaries are the Ivy Tech campus, the Gary Area Career Center, and the new facility under construction by IUN on the corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway that will be jointly used by IUN and Ivy Tech.

There are a number of existing assets in UP-East that provide a strong foundation upon which revitalization efforts can be grounded. IUN and Ivy Tech continue to expand and improve course offerings; plans are underway to improve major corridors in the neighborhood; and the availability of vacant parcels could support and serve as a catalyst for future transformation.

18 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT CNI TARGET NEIGHBORHOOD: UNIVERSITY PARK EAST

INDIANA UNIVERSITY IVY TECH NORTHWEST NEW IUN GARY AREA COMMUNITY BUILDING CAREER CENTER COLLEGE

Source: GaryMaps.com, April 2015

MARCH 2016 19 DEMOGRAPHICS

OVERVIEW POPULATION: UP-EAST VS. CITY VS. COUNTY

UP-East has seen a decline in population similar University City of Lake to Gary as a whole, with a 20% loss between Park East Gary County 2000 and 2010. However, according to the 2013 Population (2000) 3,159 102,746 484,564 American Community Survey (ACS) UP-East is showing positive population growth overall Population (2010) 2,171 80,294 496,005 whereas the City and Lake County are both Population (2013) 2,523 79,922 494,250 experiencing a slight decline in population.1 Population Change 2000-2013 -31.3% -21.9% 2.4% The racial composition of UP-East is similar to the City's (89.3% vs 84.8% black), and differs Population Change 2010-2013 significantly from that of the County, where only 16.2% -0.5% -0.4% a quarter of residents are black. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census and 2009-2013 American Community Survey UP-East has a larger youth and young adult population (ages 0-19) compared to the City RACE AND ETHNICITY: UP-EAST VS. CITY VS. COUNTY and County, bringing the neighborhood median University Park age to 31.3. City of Gary Lake County East Households and family sizes in UP-East are on RACE average larger than in the City and County. Of White 126 5.8% 8,619 10.7% 319,412 64.4% the 506 family households in UP-East, 54.3% Black 1,938 89.3% 68,107 84.8% 128,263 25.9% have a female head of household with no male present. Other 107 4.9% 3,568 4.4% 48,330 9.7% ETHNICITY Hispanic (any race) 141 6.5% 4,128 5.1% 82,663 16.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census

1 It is not clear whether this information from the 2013 ACS is correct given that it is based upon estimates versus a census. According to the Gary Sanitary District that operates the wastewater facilities in the City, there are only 500 valid addresses to which water and sewer bills are mailed in UP-East. Based upon the 2010 Census, there were 740 households in UP-East. Using this information, it would appear that the population in UP-East has actually declined since 2010.

20 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT AGE: UP-EAST VS. CITY VS. COUNTY University Park City of Gary Lake County East AGE Population 0-19 751 34.6% 24,800 30.9% 141,133 28.5% Under 5 years 180 8.3% 6,270 7.8% 33,258 6.7% 5-14 years 387 17.8% 12,508 15.6% 71,475 14.4% 15-19 years 184 8.5% 6,022 7.5% 36,400 7.3% Population 20-69 1,274 58.7% 47,437 59.1% 308,546 62.2% 20 to 24 years 148 6.8% 4,683 5.8% 29,346 5.9% 25 to 34 years 287 13.2% 9,167 11.4% 62,823 12.7% 35 to 44 years 213 9.8% 8,307 10.3% 62,630 12.6% 45 to 54 years 279 12.9% 11,209 14.0% 73,841 14.9% 55 to 61 years 191 8.8% 7,963 9.9% 45,161 9.1% 62 to 69 years 156 7.2% 6,108 7.6% 34,745 7.0% Population 70+ 146 6.7% 8,057 10.0% 46,326 9.3% Median Age (avg median for UPE/UP)­ 31.3 36.7 37.4

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census

HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION: UP-EAST VS. CITY VS. COUNTY University City of Gary Lake County Park East HOUSEHOLDS 740 31,380 188,157 Family Households 506 68.4% 19,691 62.8% 127,647 67.8% Male HH, No Wife 49 9.7% 2,091 10.6% 10,792 8.5%

Female HH, No 275 54.3% 9,692 49.2% 32,806 25.7% Husband Average Household 2.93 2.54 2.6 Size Average family size (avg for UPE/UP) 3.57 3.23 3.19

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census

MARCH 2016 21 POPULATION MIGRATION income households were moving out.3 One in Indiana, both of which are adjacent to Lake consistent trend is that the average household County.4 An interesting trend to note is that the During stakeholder interviews, several interviewees size moving into Lake County is larger than those households moving to Porter County from Lake raised a concern regarding the socio-economic moving out. This shows that larger families are County have higher incomes than vice versa, while composition of residents moving into Gary and the moving to into Lake County, while those that the opposite is true for households moving to composition of those moving out. This concern are leaving are smaller one- and two-person Cook County. was tied with the Chicago Housing Authority’s households. The household size moving into Lake Plan for Transformation, whereby numerous large County did bump up between 2003 and 2007, public housing developments were redeveloped. which may be an indication of public housing 3 The adjusted gross income data only captures households This redevelopment, which frequently included families moving to Lake County from Chicago. that filed their annual federal taxes by the stated deadline and does the demolition of public housing units, resulted not capture those who filed for an extension or filed late. In the most in the displacement and relocation of thousands With respect to where Lake County households recent year data is available (2011-2012), the IRS did make adjustments to capture all income tax filers for a given calendar year. of families. Interviewees felt that many dislocated are coming from and going to, the top two households moved to Gary using a Housing counties for both in-migration and out-migration 4 The third most popular location for in and out migration is Choice Voucher or through their own means. are Cook County in Illinois and Porter County Marion County (Indianapolis) from Lake County. Simultaneously, as conditions continued to decline in Gary, the households moving out of the City LAKE COUNTY IN- AND OUT-MIGRATION: COOK COUNTY V. PORTER COUNTY were those that had the financial means and Cook County Porter County wherewithal do so, leaving behind a lower-income and more socially- and economically-challenged Avg AGI - Avg AGI - Avg AGI - Avg AGI - population. Inflow Outflow Inflow Outflow 1999-2000 $38,205 32,351 34,356 40,618 A review of IRS migration data from 1999 through 2000-2001 40,166 34,723 34,568 45,270 2012 for Lake County shows that while the County 2001-2002 39,777 33,198 33,732 40,328 had an overall net loss in population, there was 2002-2003 37,399 32,966 34,154 39,662 positive migration between 2004 and 2008.2 This 38,002 31,936 34,951 40,104 time period coincides with when several major 2003-2004 public housing developments in Chicago were 2004-2005 41,284 31,228 35,503 44,573 being redeveloped/demolished (Robert Taylor 2005-2006 39,640 33,307 34,915 43,404 Homes, Stateway Gardens, Rockwell Gardens, 2006-2007 40,461 32,824 37,464 44,441 Grace Abbott Homes, Henry Horner, Ida B. Wells, 2007-2008 40,910 32,348 42,928 41,943 Madden Park Homes). However, the average 2008-2009 37,712 31,311 35,905 41,196 AGI for households during this time period does 2009-2010 34,710 32,199 33,556 37,777 not consistently reflect the perception that lower 2010-2011 34,076 31,014 33,771 37,666 income households were moving in while higher 2011-2012 35,251 30,845 39,467 44,764

2 IRS migration data is only available down to the County Source: Internal Revenue Service level. While imperfect as a measure of migration in and out of the City of Gary, it provides a general picture of household characteristics and population numbers.

22 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT LAKE COUNTY MIGRATION DATA 1999-2012 Inflow Outflow

Avg Avg HH Avg Avg HH Pop Gain/ Persons HHs Persons HHs AGI Size AGI Size (Loss)

1999-2000 15,121 7,532 $34,441 2.01 17,605 9,264 $35,702 1.90 (2,484)

2000-2001 15,608 7,765 36,029 2.01 17,923 9,153 37,018 1.89 (1,685)

2001-2002 16,008 7,969 36,269 2.01 17,604 9,292 35,547 1.89 (1,596)

2002-2003 16,975 8,218 34,501 2.07 17,459 9,117 44,762 1.91 (484)

2003-2004 17,598 8,379 35,385 2.10 17,700 9,053 34,977 1.96 (102)

2004-2005 18,617 8,673 37,985 2.15 18,094 9,256 36,999 1.95 523

2005-2006 19,420 9,131 37,815 2.13 19,094 9,688 36,894 1.97 326

2006-2007 19,135 9,180 38,291 2.08 18,556 9,521 41,435 1.95 579

2007-2008 19,102 9,308 38,609 2.05 18,701 9,685 42,535 1.93 401

2008-2009 16,579 8,274 36,278 2.00 17,877 9,208 36,355 1.94 (1,298)

2009-2010 15,629 7,768 33,994 2.01 16,869 8,561 33,784 1.97 (1,240)

2010-2011 15,302 7,611 35,348 2.01 17,081 8,853 33,832 1.93 (1,779)

2011-2012 18,140 9,010 37,057 2.01 20,179 10,281 36,240 1.96 (2,039)

Source: Internal Revenue Service

MARCH 2016 23 HOUSING

HOUSING STOCK With respect to building condition, of the 1,032 The majority of the UP-East housing stock is structures in UP-East, nearly 25% are in major low-rise single-family homes. There are few disrepair (poor or dangerous condition), and in apartment buildings resulting in very few options some cases, have been completely engulfed by for households (e.g. single people, small families, vegetation and weeds. or seniors) who do not want a single-family home. With growing employment and enrollment at IUN Addressing the vacant and abandoned homes and Ivy Tech, there is a potential market for new in UP-East was the number one improvement housing development catered to students and the identified by neighborhood residents. employees.5

BUILDING CONDITIONS AND VACANCY The decline in neighborhood population (31% between 2000 and 2010) has resulted in a sizable number of vacant and abandoned homes throughout UP-East.

In 2013, the City of Gary collaborated with 200 Housing stock, Delaware Street volunteers to conduct a vacant and abandoned parcel survey of all 60,000 parcels in the City over the course of 18 months. According to a survey conducted in 2013, of the 1,991 parcels in UP-East, there are 963 vacant lots and 230 vacant buildings in the neighborhood. While this level of vacancy is not desirable for the neighborhood, it does create a potential opportunity to assemble multiple lots together to better accommodate new housing types better suited for the community’s needs.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the vacancy rate in UP-East is 28.3% versus the citywide vacancy rate of 20.6%. Within UP-East, of the 1,032 existing structures, 28% were vacant.

5 City of Gary University Park Housing & Retail Market Housing stock, Virginia Street Feasibility Study, SB Friedman, 2014

24 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT OCCUPIED AND VACANT STRUCTURES

28% VACANT vs 20% CITYWIDE

Source: GaryMaps.com, April 2015

MARCH 2016 25 BUILDING CONDITIONS

1,028 STRUCTURES 24% POOR OR DANGEROUS

Source: GaryMaps.com, April 2015

26 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT PROPERTY VALUES/SALES MEDIAN HOUSING VALUE AND RENTAL RATES University City of Gary Lake County At $50,567, the average property value for owner- Park East occupied housing units in UP-East is 15% lower Housing Value than the City of Gary and 60% lower than Lake $50,567 $65,400 $136,600 Median Rent $626 $561 $646 County. The median monthly rental rate for University Park East was $626 compared to $561 Source: U.S. Census, 2013 ACS 5-year citywide. This is most likely attributable to a demand for rental housing in the area due to the 6 presence of IUN and Ivy Tech. HOUSING UNIT VACANCY AND OCCUPANCY University Park Indicators City of Gary Lake County East TOTAL HOUSING 1,032 39,531 208,750 UNITS Vacant Units 292 28.3% 8151 20.6% 20593 9.9%

Owner Occupied 381 51.5% 16529 52.7% 130460 69.3%

Renter Occupied 359 48.5% 14851 47.3% 57697 30.7%

Source: U.S. Census (2010)

6 According to data provided by Gary Housing Authority, fewer than 25 renter households are renting using a Housing Choice Voucher in UP-East.

MARCH 2016 27 PUBLIC HOUSING – COLONIAL GARDENS #1 AND #2

Colonial Gardens #1 and #2 are two scattered- site single-family public housing developments located in UP-East. Colonial Gardens #1 consists of 28 units and Colonial Gardens #2 consists of 50 units owned and managed by Gary Housing Authority (GHA).

According to a 2014 assessment by Alliance Architects, Colonial Gardens #1 & #2 have reached the end of their useful lives. The amount of deterioration and vandalism observed throughout the structures is so extensive that the assessment recommended demolition and reconstruction of all 78 units. Colonial Gardens #1 Colonial Gardens #1

As of January 2015, only 18 of the 78 units were occupied. In April 2015, the Gary Housing Authority received approval from HUD to demolish all 78 units. Relocation of impacted Colonial Gardens’ households will be completed by February 2016. GHA anticipates demolishing the structures in 2016 pending funding availability.

Under CNI, the Blueprint for Change for UP-East must identify a replacement housing plan for the 78 public housing units to be demolished. Depending upon market conditions, all or a portion of these 78 units may be replaced in mixed-income or mixed-use developments within the neighborhood.

Colonial Gardens #2 Colonial Gardens #2

28 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT PUBLIC HOUSING

Source: City of Gary GIS, April 2015

MARCH 2016 29 COMMERCIAL & RETAIL PROFILE

GROCERY STORES There are no grocery stores located in UP- East. The closest grocery store is the Aldi on Grant Street. Numerous other stores are within approximately three miles of the area, though their locations heavily favor the western end of the City.

BROADWAY Broadway serves as a commercial backbone to University Park and the City as a whole. It offers neighborhood retail including banks, a bakery, convenience stores, check cashing, and tax preparation services. The portion of Broadway located in UP-East is zoned B1 (limited retail), B3 (limited service), and B5 (wholesale and Save More on Broadway Aldi on Grant St motor vehicle). There are several abandoned structures, vacant land, and surface parking lots that are currently holding the area back from having a prominent, well-developed shopping district. Traffic speeds and wide roadways also detract from the walkability of this retail corridor. Increased foot traffic and clustering of businesses would provide a healthier commercial district for both business owners and residents. The 2013 University Park Master Plan recommends that pedestrian-friendly improvements should be focused along Broadway between 35th Avenue and Ridge Road.

Broadway Commercial Corridor Broadway Commercial Corridor

30 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT GROCERY STORE ACCESS

Source: City of Gary GIS, April 2015

MARCH 2016 31 LAND USE LAND USE: UP-EAST Residential uses ranging from single-family to Area Percent multifamily homes comprise just over 50% of UP- Land Use Area (sf) East. Churches, Schools, and Public Institutions (acres) of Total (such as Ivy Tech and IUN) make up the second 5 209,350 1.4% largest land use category (33.5%). Commercial, Auto Sales & Services office, and retail uses account for just over 3% of the land use in the neighborhood, primarily along Exempt - Church, School, Public 112 4,894,817 33.5% the western and southern borders (Broadway and Institution Ridge Road). Commercial 3 142,870 1.0%

Office 6 276,618 1.9%

Unclassified 4 166,409 1.1%

Park District 35 1,522,285 10.4%

Residential 169 7,362,612 50.3% (Single & Multi-Family)

Retail/Restaurant 1 49,709 0.3%

TOTAL 336 14,624,670 100.0%

Source: NIRPC 2015

32 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT LAND USE

Source: City of Gary GIS, April 2015

MARCH 2016 33 ZONING The Gary Zoning Ordinance has not been updated since the early 1960s,when the City’s population was at its peak of 178,000 people and automobile was king.7,8 The City is planning to update the code in the next few years to better reflect today’s needs.

Currently a significant portion of Broadway is zoned as B-5, permitting auto-oriented and wholesale activities. To help Broadway regain its status as the focal point for commercial activity in University Park, zoning classifications will need to be reviewed to accommodate and promote mixed-use walkable development.

7 Conversation with Jack Eskin of Redevelopment Commission 9/10/15

8 "Indiana City/Town Census Counts, 1900 to 2010." City and Town Census Counts: STATS Indiana. Accessed March 02, 2016. http:// www.stats.indiana.edu/population/PopTotals/historic_counts_cities.asp.

34 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT ZONING

Source: City of Gary GIS, April 2015

MARCH 2016 35 FLOOD PLAINS & RISK RIVERFRONT The northern end of UP-East is located in a 100- The City has not capitalized on riverfront year floodplain. Severe flooding in September redevelopment after the 2008 flood in the same 2008 from the remnants of Hurricane Ike and way neighboring municipalities have. The City Pacific Tropical Storm Lowell resulted in nine of Hammond and City of Highland have used inches of rain falling within 24 hours, causing the challenges and opportunities that came with historic flooding all along the Little Calumet River the 2008 flood to improve park and recreation and its tributaries. The storm shut down I-80/94 amenities such as fishing and canoeing along the for a week and caused irreparable damage to Little Calumet River as well as adding commercial IUN’s Tamarack Hall, a Gary fire station, and many attractions. The City currently does not have a plan homes. in place for riverfront redevelopment apart from the regional Deep River Watershed Plan. Current efforts to prevent damage from future floods include creating a permanent funding source to operate and maintain the levees along the Little Calumet River, where the Little Calumet River Trail is located. Property owners in Little Calumet Trail Levee the watershed now pay an additional per-parcel fee, and a few houses in the region that were determined to be too close to the watershed have been cleared. The $250 million Little Calumet River Flood Control Project is nearing completion.9

9 Franklin, Lu Ann. “Looking Back at the Flood of 2008.” NWI Times. 28 Sept. 2012. Web. 8 Jan. 2016. Indiana University Northwest, 2008 Flood10 Indiana University Northwest, 2008 Flood10 10 Photo Credit: Christopher Shield

36 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT HYDROLOGY

Source: City of Gary GIS, April 2015

MARCH 2016 37 OPPORTUNITY SITES

Stakeholders identified three opportunity sites within University Park East:

1. The Broadway commercial corridor, which serves as a central spine for the City of Gary and acts as a major thoroughfare through the neighborhood. 2. The abandoned Benjamin Franklin elementary school site. At 14.5 acres, this is the largest vacant parcel within the neighborhood. 3. The 50-unit scattered-site public housing development Colonial Gardens #2. Demolition is slated to take place in 2016 Broadway Commercial Corridor dependent upon funding availability.

Benjamin Franklin School Colonial Gardens #2

38 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT OPPORTUNITY SITES

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SCHOOL SITE COLONIAL GARDENS #2

BROADWAY CORRIDOR

Source: Farr Associates, 2016

MARCH 2016 39

CIRCULATION

3 41 EXISTING CIRCULATION

VEHICULAR Broadway (also State Road 53) runs north- south through the center of the City, including through the heart of the Stadium and Downtown districts. Broadway provides two travel lanes in each direction, with left turn lanes at major intersections. Ridge Road provides an east-west route in southern Gary. It is in good condition and has two lanes in each direction.

According to the 2008 Comprehensive Plan, the City does not conduct road condition ratings or traffic counts. Implementation of a yearly roadway condition rating, collection of traffic counts, and review of accident reports would be an asset to the City in prioritizing needed roadway 35th Avenue at Georgia Street looking west Broadway looking south to 37th Ave. improvements. The Board of Public Works meets yearly to approve an Infrastructure Improvement Plan including street improvements.

The ease of accessing I-80/94 and I-65 from the neighborhood was identified as the number one asset of UP-East by neighborhood residents.

Ridge Road at Broadway looking west Martin Luther King Blvd. looking North

42 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT PRIMARY INTERSECTIONS & CORRIDORS

Source: University Park Plan, 2013

MARCH 2016 43 BIKEWAY SYSTEM Georgia Street is designated as an excellent Gary is home to several bike trails, and plans street for bicycling with wider outside lane or are in the works for extensions to this system. shoulder widths and lower traffic speeds and The Planning Department is implementing a volumes. Georgia Street also connects with the transportation grant to create bike trails along crushed stone Little Calumet River Trail. This the Clark Road corridor, connecting the Grand connection provides an improved recreational Calumet River near the Toll Road, to the Little bicycling amenity for the neighborhood. However, Calumet River located near I-80/94. The same during stakeholder interviews, concerns about transportation grant would create bike trails in the condition of the Little Calumet River Trail the Miller Beach neighborhood, connecting Gary were expressed, with portions of the trail being beaches to businesses in Miller Beach and, via impassable due to erosion. County Line Road, to bike trails in neighboring the City of Portage and the City of Lake Station.

The Northwest Indiana Bike Map indicates that there are no designated bike lanes in UP-East. 35th Avenue is designated as a medium-recommended street due to its medium-width outside lane and shoulder, as well as its medium traffic speed and volume. This assessment of 35th Avenue bicycling conditions aligns with the Indiana Department of Transportation’s 2015 Bike and Pedestrian Report. This report indicates that there appears to be enough room on the outside lanes and shoulders to accommodate designated bike lanes on both sides of 35th Avenue. The university population presents an opportunity to implement bike infrastructure that would increase connectivity within the neighborhood and could eventually connect to the rest of the city and neighboring municipalities. Little Calumet Trail at Georgia Street

44 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT REGIONAL BIKEWAY SYSTEM

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST

N Not to scale

Source: NIRPC, 2012

MARCH 2016 45 PEDESTRIAN Within UP-East, there are several gaps in the pedestrian network, caused by deteriorating sidewalks throughout the neighborhood. Sidewalks are primarily absent in the northern portion of the neighborhood, and many sidewalks are currently overgrown and unusable. While curb ramps for pedestrian crossings are placed near some intersections, they are often unkempt and do not have white ‘zebra striping’ painted on the street to alert drivers that pedestrians may be crossing there. During a site survey, pedestrians were only observed walking in the streets - never on the sidewalks. Street trees are sparse on many residential blocks and almost entirely absent on Broadway apart from a few trees near IUN.

Streetscaping and proper pedestrian facility maintenance are also absent along Broadway. Overgrown sidewalks along portions of 35th Avenue Sidewalk present, overgrown Driveway curb cuts are at times wider than they need to be, making it less safe for pedestrians to walk on the sidewalk as automobiles turn into and out of these drives. Frequently, there is no screening of parking lots along Broadway. The combination of these elements makes portions of the neighborhood feel both uncomfortable and unsafe for pedestrians.

In the Neighborhood Resident Survey, better streets and sidewalks were listed among the top five improvements needed in UP-East.

Wide curb cut along Broadway Sidewalk present, usable

46 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT SIDEWALK CONDITIONS

Source: GaryMaps.com, April 2015

MARCH 2016 47 TRANSIT child care centers are located within ¼-mile of a Route 21 – University Park UP-East is well connected to the region by GPTC bus stop. Transportation was only cited as This loop route runs west along 35th Avenue interstate highways immediately bordering the a barrier by residents when it came to health care through University Park and through neighborhood on the north and east sides. access. neighborhoods to the south of University Park, Broadway and Ridge Road connect UP-East to and returns back to 35th Avenue. Route 21 runs downtown Gary and neighboring communities, every hour Monday through Friday from 6:00am and 35th Avenue and Georgia Street provide GARY BUS ROUTES SERVING UNIVERSITY to 7:00pm. On Saturday, the route runs every hour connections to adjacent neighborhoods. Of Gary’s PARK EAST from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Route 21 serves the 10 bus lines, five run through UP-East. The corner Village Shopping Center, Market City, Pinnacle of Broadway and 35th Avenue serves as a major Route 6 – E. 35th Ave/Marshalltown Family Childcare, Lew Wallace High School, Ross transit hub, second only to the Metro Center This loop route runs south on Broadway and loops Pool, CVS, the Mary Lane Center, Bailly Middle Station in downtown Gary. through neighborhoods to the northeast of UP- School, Gary Area Career Center, Ivy Tech, IUN, East and returns back to Broadway. Route 6 runs and South Gleason Park Golf Course. The Gary Public Transportation Corporation every hour Monday through Friday from 6:15am (GPTC) provides bus service within Gary and to 7:00pm. On Saturday, the route runs every to parts of the City of Crown Point, the City of hour from 10:15am to 5:15pm. Route 6 serves the REGIONAL BUS ROUTES East Chicago, the City of Hammond, the City of GHA’s Dorie Miller Homes, Dunbar-Pulaski Middle Hobart, and the Town of Merrillville. School, Gary Public Library Du Bois Branch, 15th Route 17 – Broadway Express to 93rd Ave Avenue Post Office, the GHA Office, and Metro This is a two-way express route running up and Bus service is available Monday through Saturday, Center. down Broadway between the Metro Center th but does not operate on Sundays and major on 4 Avenue and the Government Center on rd holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, 93 Avenue. Route 17 runs every hour Monday through Friday between 7:00am and 6:00pm. Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day). An Route 19 – W. 6th Ave Tolleston This loop route runs north on Broadway and On Saturday, this route runs every two hours on-call paratransit service is also available during through neighborhoods to the northwest of UP- between 8:00am and 4:00pm. Route 17 serves the regular hours of operation. There are designated East and returns back to Broadway. Route 19 runs Metro Center, Genesis Convention Center, the bus stops along all routes, but almost every corner every hour Monday through Friday from 5:45am Gary Public Library Kenny Branch and Du Bois along each route can be a bus stop if a patron to 7:30pm. On Saturday, the route runs every hour Branch, 15th Avenue Post Office, the GHA Office, ‘flag stops’ the bus by waving at the driver. from 9:45am to 5:45pm. Route 19 serves Methodist IUN, Urban League of Northwest Indiana, Gary Hospital, Frankie McCullough Girls Academy, Neighborhood Services, Andrean High School, As of 2013, fares for the bus service are $1.60 Roosevelt High School, David O. Duncan Century Plaza Shopping Center, Ultra Foods, for adults on local routes and $2.25 for regional Elementary School, Roosevelt Park, GHA’s Delaney Clifford Pierce Middle School, Methodist Hospital, routes. Children four and under are free with a Community, County Market Plaza, Village Mall, the Government Center, and Pinnacle Hospital in paying adult. Monthly, bi-weekly, student, and South Gleason Park Golf Course, Aldi, IUN, Urban Merrillville. ADA-rate fare cards are also available. League of Northwest Indiana, Gary Neighborhood Services, the Gary Public Library Du Bois Branch, Overall, it appears that the public transportation 15th Avenue Post Office, the GHA Office, and the system takes UP-East residents to where they need Metro Center. to go. Numerous grocery stores and center-based

48 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT BUS ROUTES SERVING UNIVERSITY PARK EAST

Source: City of Gary GIS, April 2015

MARCH 2016 49 N 1mi 0mi .5mi .25mi .75mi

lake michigan Chicago

Indiana US Steel Corporation Dunes

90 Route 18 – Broadway/61st Ave to Methodist PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS South Shore Line Gary Metro US Steel Yard Hospital Gary Metro Center This is a two-way route running up and down 20 12 th BROADWAY Genesis Broadway between the Metro Center on 4 The Livable Broadway Regional Plan (LBRP) Convention Center Avenue and 93rd Avenue. Route 18 runs every identifies Broadway as the backbone for the GARY hour Monday through Friday between 5:15am and overall GPTC transit system. Broadway is the 6:30pm. On Saturday, this route runs every two second most heavily used transit corridor in Lake hours between 9:00am and 3:00pm. This route County after the South Shore Line commuter rail, 80 serves IUN, Ultra Foods, Century Plaza Shopping which serves commuters from the South Bend Center, and Methodist Hospital. Selected trips Indiana University Airport in Indiana to downtown Chicago. Two local Northwest also serve the Government Center located on 93rd bus routes and two regional routes also operate Avenue. along the corridor. Connections between bus routes and destinations 65 The LBRP includes plans for a new rapid bus are weak. 35th Avenue does not encourage service for the Broadway corridor that would walking between educational institutions, with run the length of Broadway from the Gary sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and storm sewers Metro Center to the City of Crown Point. This BROADWAY missing at points on both sides of 35th Avenue. new service could help attract riders who are Many residential blocks, particularly around to 33rd 53 seeking a fast and more comfortable commute. Avenue, are missing sidewalks entirely. Improved The rapid bus service would operate frequently bus infrastructure, such as maintained bus and stop at select locations only to expedite shelters, clear route signage, and bike racks would 55 travel times. Proposed stops are based on GPTC provide a more complete, user-friendly public ridership and transfer locations as well as areas transportation system. identified in Northwest Indiana Regional Planning MERRILLVILLE Commission’s Livable Centers report as having more than 25 employees per acre. There are two th proposed stops located in University Park: 35 30 Avenue and Broadway, and Ridge and Broadway. Everest College The GPTC anticipates starting the rapid bus Methodist Hospitals service in 2017. Southlake Campus

CROWN POINT Purdue Technology Center

231

Livable Broadway Regional Plan Bus Rapid Transit

50 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT MARCH 2016 51

PUBLIC UTILITIES

4 53 WATER SUPPLY & DISTRIBUTION Over 90% of the current sewer and stormwater sanitary sewer system. Green infrastructure tactics Gary’s water is supplied by Indiana American infrastructure is combined. The benefit to this is include rainwater gardens, rain barrels, increasing Water’s Northwest Operations and is part of the that some stormwater is being treated before it urban agriculture, as well as other techniques that larger service-area that includes: the City of Gary, reenters the lake or rivers. Unfortunately, when help collect, temporarily store, and filter pollutants City of Merrillville, City of Hobart, City of Portage, there are extreme flooding events, such as the from rain water before it reenters water bodies in Town of Porter, Town of Chesterton, Winfield floods in 2007 and 2008, the volume of waste- the city. Township, City of Valparaiso (South Haven, and stormwater flowing through the sewers Green infrastructure is a priority in UP-East due Shorewood Forest). Water treatment is provided overwhelms the system, causing water to overflow to the Little Calumet River and the stormwater at two conventional coagulation, sedimentation, into the lake and rivers without being treated. outflow at 32nd Avenue that flows directly into dual-media filtration facilities with a rated the river. UP-East is located entirely within the pumping capacity of 54 million gallons per day GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE & Little Calumet River Basin. On the property tax (MGD). A small percentage of Indiana American bill for properties within the Little Calumet River Water’s supply is purchased from the City of East STORMWATER COLLECTION The Gary Department of Green Urbanism & Basin, a fee is collected for green infrastructure Chicago’s Water Department, which supplements Stormwater is responsible for overseeing air, land, improvements in the neighborhood. Moving water delivered to residents and businesses and water quality of the City. The department is forward, green infrastructure and stormwater located in the northwest section of Gary. charged with implementing the MS4 Program needs to be incorporated into neighborhood The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) that was development considerations. requires Indiana American Water to test and report mandated by the U.S. EPA through the federal IUN installed a new pumping station for water quality annually. In the most recent report, Clean Water Act. stormwater outflow in response to the 2008 flood. which is from 2014, all contaminants were below The Clean Water Act requires storm water state and federal maximum allowable levels. discharges from certain types of urbanized areas SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL Indiana American Water invested more than $8.2 to be permitted under the National Pollutant UP-East curbside trash collection occurs on million in improvements in the Northwest Indiana Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. Fridays. Additionally, Gary residents are permitted Water system in 2014, and contributed to the local The GSD was established in 2003 to comply with to dump a truck-size load of trash up to three economy in paying $3.8 million in local taxes. federal regulations, known as Stormwater Phase times a month at 7015 W. 5th Avenue or 6801 W. II. The Indiana Department of Environmental 15th Avenue, Monday through Saturday. Management is the agency charged with COMBINED SANITARY SEWER regulating and reducing the impacts of stormwater The Gary Sanitary District (GSD) is responsible runoff from certain construction site, industrial for collection, disposal, and drainage of both facility, municipal, governmental, and institutional storm and service water, as well as the relieving of sources. sanitary sewers in the Storm Water Management District. The City is working to increase green infrastructure throughout the city via their Vacant2Vibrant initiative to reduce stormwater impact on the

54 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT RECYCLING GAS • Merrillville Conservancy provides sewer The Recycling Department offers: NIPSCO provides natural gas service to 750,000 service to only a few customers in Gary customers in northern Indiana. NIPSCO • MidCo Remedial Corporation • Curbside Recycling - curbside collection of representatives reported the company has recycling from the residents of Gary sufficient natural gas generating capacity to • Prax Air Inc. provides service to U.S. Steel serve Gary’s current needs. It also can support • E-Recycling – collection of unusable or • Quest Communications unwanted electric items additional residential, commercial, and industrial development. • RVP Fiber Company (U.S. Signal Corp.) • Grass/Leaf Pick Up - Seasonal services • Sprint and Nextel • Educational Services - information on how Wolverine Pipeline (does not provide any to recycle and about different trash and • OTHER service to Gary but does pass through the recycling bin types According to the 2008 Gary Comprehensive Plan, City) Recycling is collected on Mondays throughout UP- other utilities located within Calumet Township East. providing service for Gary include: AT&T (SBC) provides service to 60,000 Drop-off locations for recyclable items are located • at the Recycling Department (900 Madison Street) landline telephone customers in Gary and and on the corner of Miller and Hancock Street. an unknown number of wireless customers • BP Pipeline DRY UTILITIES • Buckeye Partners, LP ELECTRIC Northern Indiana Public Service Company • Call Net Enterprises (NIPSCO) provides electric service to 450,000 • Citgo Petroleum customers in northern Indiana. In the 2008 City of Gary Comprehensive Plan, NIPSCO • Comcast representatives reported that the company has • Crossroads Pipeline (NiSource) sufficient electrical generating capacity to serve Gary’s current needs. It also has the ability to • Elantic Telecom (Cavalier Telephone) purchase electricity on the market and support • Enbridge Energy Partners additional residential, commercial, and industrial development in Gary. • Explorer Pipeline • Kentucky Data Link • Marathon Pipeline • MCI (Verizon)

MARCH 2016 55 STREET LIGHTS

Better lighting was cited among the top five improvements needed in UP-East by residents. As shown on the map, there are several areas within the neighborhood that lack mid-block street lighting.

The City of Gary and the Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) are responsible for street lights within the city.

NIPSCO poles are wooden and marked with green circles and are located throughout the city. City- owned poles are not numbered and are primarily located on major streets in Gary.11

11 Tejeda, Gregory. “City Officials Want Resident Help in Finding Malfunctioning Street Lights.” Chicago Tribune. 20 Mar. 2015. City of Gary Street Light (Broadway) NIPSCO Street Light (35th Ave and Maryland St) Web. 8 Jan. 2016.

56 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT STREET LIGHTS

Source: Farr Associates, 2015

MARCH 2016 57

COMMUNITY FACILITIES & SERVICES

5 59 PARKS & OPEN SPACE range; pavilions and gazebos; a playground; a HOWE PARK Between the Little Calumet River Corridor and baseball and football field; and tennis courts with Howe Park is a 3.1-acre pocket park located at 40th Gleason Park, there is substantial open space a clubhouse. Avenue and Kentucky Street. The only remaining surrounding UP-East. However, much of the area play equipment are two swing sets; however, one The history of Gleason Park dates back to the surrounding UP-East to the north is a wetland of the swing sets is unusable as both swings are early 1930s at the height of segregation in the or marshland. There are no neighborhood missing. There is also an abandoned outdoor pool U.S. Gary was one of the only cities in the nation parks located in UP-East, and the closest and an overgrown, fenced in concrete pad with to build two separate, segregated golf courses neighborhood parks are not easily accessible due lighting in poor condition. for white and black golfers using federal funds to discontinuous streets. Additionally, the facilities from New Deal programs. The whites-only course, at these neighborhood parks –East Side Park and South Gleason Park, was 310 acres with an 18- Howe Park – are in very poor condition, rendering hole golf course, multiple recreation areas, and EAST SIDE PARK them essentially unusable for residents, families a pool. The neighboring North Gleason Park was East Side Park is a 2.8-acre pocket park located at and children. The closest park with maintained built specifically for black golfers and was just 47 4100 Maryland Street. The 2009 Parks Master Plan facilities is Pittman Square, which is not within acres with a small swimming pool and playground, rated it in Critical Condition with poor accessibility. walking distance of UP-East. demonstrating a deliberate action by the City's At that time, the playground equipment had a administration to provide an inferior golfing number of sharp edges and refuse and brush was facility for its African American citizens. In other dumped in the drive to the park, making the park locations across the country, black golfers were still as well as the neighborhood feel unsafe. GARY PARKS MASTER PLAN In 2009, the Epply Institute for Parks and not permitted to play on either public or private The park offers a basketball court; baseball field; Public Lands at Indiana University conducted courses, despite the obvious segregation. two playground areas; a grill and picnic area; a an inventory and assessment of parks in Gary The Parks Master Plan states that in 1921, dead end drive for parallel parking; and a swing and provided recommendations for each park. prominent regional architect George W. Maher set. The Gary Department of Public Parks Board of designed the clubhouse at the Gleason Golf Commissioners unanimously adopted the plan Course (formerly known as the Golf Clubhouse at in April 2009. Currently, the Parks Master Plan Riverside Park). Maher was a significant contributor needs to be updated. No timeframe is currently PITTMAN SQUARE to the Prairie School style of architecture. The Pittman Square is a 4-acre pocket park located identified for completing this update. Gleason Park Clubhouse, built in 1926, is a Tudor at 5100 Pennsylvania Street. It is a large Revival style featuring locker rooms; showers neighborhood park with wide-open spaces GLEASON PARK and restroom facilities; a restaurant; and a golf nestled within a quiet residential area. The park Gleason Park is a 329-acre regional park located shop. These features were fairly advanced for hosts a playground, pavilion, and tennis courts just north of IUN. Due to flooding, many park golf clubhouses in the 1920s. Aside from a few and has great potential to be a true asset for amenities were compromised and remain in poor structural improvements, the building still retains local residents. The play structure appears to be condition. Park amenities include: natural wetland much of its original architectural character. in good condition, but there is a considerable with a paved pathway; golf course and driving amount of litter around the playground.

60 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT PARKS & ACCESS

Source: City of Gary GIS, April 2015

MARCH 2016 61 LITTLE CALUMET & GREEN LINKS MASTER PLAN Since 1990, the Little Calumet River has been under construction by the Army Corps of Engineers to add levees and floodwalls to improve flood control as well as add recreational amenities. The 2005 Gary Green Link Master Plan creates a ring around Gary creating a natural resources greenway and recreation corridor that connects the Grand Calumet River with the Little Calumet River and Lake Michigan, ultimately linking with the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The Plan calls for a dedicated non-motorized pathway running along the Little Calumet Levee with an expansion down Georgia Street that would serve the UP-East neighborhood.12

OTHER PARKS Pittman Square Howe Park The Gary Green Link Master Plan proposes multiple trails through University Park and the City's 2008-2028 Comprehensive Plan seeks to expand these proposed trails to link existing parks with areas of concentrated development. The comprehensive plan also recommends expansions to the existing facilities at Gleason Park, possibly with the involvement of IUN; improvements to the landscaping along I-80/94 and enhancement of the area’s wetlands and river corridor to provide a more visually appealing approach for visitors using the interstate and traveling to local institutions; the addition of additional open space throughout the neighborhood; and smaller parcels located along proposed trails as possible pocket parks that could serve as trailheads.

12 "Gary Green Link Corridor." UrbanWorks. Accessed March 02, 2016. http://www.urbanworksarchitecture.com/portfolio/gary-green- East Side Park Little Calumet River Trail link-corridor/.

62 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT PUBLIC LIBRARIES sites citywide. Patrolling patterns were recently The Gary Public Library system operates a Main reviewed and have been updated to better serve Library, five branches, and bookmobile. the needs of GHA residents. The GHA will also be exploring Peace Officers Standards Training, The Kennedy Public Library Branch, located at EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES the creation of in-service training, as well as the 3953 Broadway, is the closest library to UP-East, The Gary Fire Department teamed with Methodist establishment of Neighborhood Watch teams in about a mile southwest from the center of the Hospitals to start the City of Gary Fire Department all neighborhoods.13 neighborhood. The original structure has been EMS Division in 1974. Since that time, the EMS Division has been the primary provider of expanded to provide a large reading room CRIME AND SAFETY Emergency Medical Services to the City of Gary. for adults and a smaller room, complete with Part I Violent and Property Crimes: The fireplace, on the opposite side for the children. incidence of Part I crimes has been decreasing There is a small auditorium and a pleasant The EMS division includes first aid skills, oxygen therapy, splinting and bandaging, patient steadily in UP-East (and City-wide) since 2012. The courtyard that holds a marble sculpture. The Part I violent crime rate dropped dramatically in library is open from 10am to 6pm on Monday, assessment, and transportation to hospital 2014, which has been attributed to the expansion 12pm to 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and emergency rooms. Advanced life-saving skills now Saturday from 10am to 4pm. The library is closed also include EKG monitoring and defibrillation, of the IUN Police Department’s patrol area to on Tuesday and Friday. IV and medication therapy, and advanced airway Georgia Street, and the regular presence of the maintenance. Gary Police Department’s Special Operations officers in the neighborhood – these officers FIRE SERVICE gather in the Ivy Tech parking lot in the morning The Gary Fire Department’s division of Fire POLICE SERVICE and evenings to conduct their debriefing sessions. Suppression and Rescue is the primary response The Gary Police Department aims to work in partnership with residents of Gary to “improve In 2015, the violent crime rate was 4.15 per 1,000 agency in Gary to respond to fires, hazardous persons in UP-East, which was slightly lower than materials incidents, rescue situations and other the quality of life by enforcing the laws of the city, the City rate of 5.74. emergencies. Gary Fire Station #10, located at state and federal government, while applying the 3310 Virginia Street, was damaged during the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and 2008 and was subsequently abandoned. Currently, accountability.” While Part I property crimes have also been the closest fire station to UP-East is Fire Station decreasing overall since 2013, the rate of property #5 located at 4101 Washington Street. A new fire The City of Gary is divided into 4 police sectors crime in UP-East per 1,000 residents has remained station is slated to be built at the northwest corner and served by 200 officers. UP-East falls within the approximately 1.5 times higher than the Citywide of 49th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street at the old David Sector, with the number of officers serving rate. At the public meeting in October 2015, school property. that sector varying daily. residents frequently cited break-ins and thefts as major issues in the community, and improved Eight Engine Companies, four Truck Companies, The Gary Housing Authority (GHA) Security safety was identified as one of their top concerns one Rescue Company, and one Water Tanker assist Division was established to respond to calls in the neighborhood survey. the Division Chief and Battalion Chiefs. Certified for service by residents at GHA sites. There are firefighters, Haz/Mat Technicians, Rescue Divers, currently 40 officers assigned to the eight GHA Confined Space Rescue Specialists, and EMT’s staff these companies. 13 Gary Housing Authority 5 Year Plan (2015)

MARCH 2016 63 PART 1 VIOLENT CRIMES 2010-2015: UP-EAST V. CITY OF GARY EX-OFFENDER RELEASE

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Based on the most recent self-reported addresses provided by released inmates from the Indiana Criminal Homicide 2 0 2 2 2 0 Department of Correction, of all inmates being Forcible Rape 4 3 1 2 0 0 released to Gary, a relatively low numbers of ex- Robbery 14 12 17 13 7 7 offenders are being released back into Glen Park East. While relative few ex-offenders are returning 8 5 2 3 1 2 Aggravated Assault to neighborhood, stakeholders have cited the need for expungement services for ex-offenders and on-going challenges with them being able to Total Part 1 Violent Crimes - UP-East (tract 123) 28 20 22 20 10 9 secure employment. UP-East Violent Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents 12.90 9.21 10.13 9.21 4.61 4.15 City of Gary Rate 9.29 8.18 9.13 11.11 9.03 5.74 Source: City of Gary Police Department, 2016 EX-OFFENDER RELEASE BY ZIP CODE (2013 & 2014)14 Year ZIP 2013 2014 Total 46401 3 2 5 PART 1 PROPERTY CRIMES 2010-2015: UP-EAST V. CITY OF GARY 46402 118 84 202 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 46403 36 34 70 107 130 103 89 72 60 Burglary 46404 45 28 73 60 65 63 73 74 68 Larceny-Theft 46406 23 28 51 38 28 20 23 25 10 Auto Theft 46407 41 45 86 5 4 1 1 5 4 Arson 46408 53 31 84 46409 – Glen Park 16 15 31 Total Part 1 Property Crimes - UP-East (tract 123) 210 227 187 186 176 142 East UP-East Property Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents 96.73 104.56 86.14 85.67 81.07 65.41 Total 335 267 602 City of Gary Rate 66.92 66.70 56.75 59.68 51.25 43.13 Source: Indiana Department of Corrections, 2015

Source: City of Gary Police Department, 2016

14 Data based on the offenders most recent placement zip code and self reported offender residence from Indiana Department of Corrections

64 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT ZIP CODES

Source: City of Gary GIS, April 2015

MARCH 2016 65 VIOLENCE Community Methodist Healthy HealthNet Hospitals- United VIOLENCE Indiana People 2020 Inc. Service Northlake Service States Target Violence is a significant issue with the potential Area Area to affect health outcomes. According to a study completed by the Community HealthNet, Inc. and Firearm-related Deaths15 21.1* 21.1* 11.1 10.2 9.2 Methodist Hospitals-Northlake, firearm-related Have you ever been the deaths and homicide are two to three times more victim of a violent crime in 4.5% 5.8% --- 1.6% --- prevalent in their service areas than in the state or your area in the past five country. In addition, residents in the local service years? areas are more likely to have been the victim of a violent crime in the past five years than the Has an intimate partner ever general U.S. population. threatened you with physical 13.2% 13.6% --- 11.7% --- violence?

Has an intimate partner ever hit, slapped, pushed, kicked 12.9% 13.9% --- 13.5% --- or hurt you in any way?

Homicide16 17.5* 17.5* 5.2 5.6 5.5

15 Age-adjusted deaths per 100,000 population, 2008-2010 16 Age-adjusted deaths per 100,000 population, 2008-2010

66 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT Community Methodist Healthy HealthNet Hospitals- United Indiana People 2020 NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES Inc. Service Northlake Service States Target Area Area There are a number of neighborhood amenities located in and bordering UP-East. The majority WALKSCORE FOR UNIVERSITY PARK EAST Firearm-related Deaths15 21.1* 21.1* 11.1 10.2 9.2 of these amenities are clustered on Broadway Have you ever been the near Ridge Road and include tax services, check cashing, retail and convenience stores, restaurants victim of a violent crime in 4.5% 5.8% --- 1.6% --- and a church. Other amenities, located primarily in your area in the past five the northern portion of the neighborhood, include years? churches, medical offices, IUN, Ivy Tech, and Gary Has an intimate partner ever Area Career Center. Auto repair shops and gas stations are located on Broadway and Georgia threatened you with physical 13.2% 13.6% --- 11.7% --- Street. violence? There are five churches located within UP-East: Has an intimate partner ever Saint Peters Assyrian Eastern Church, Kings hit, slapped, pushed, kicked 12.9% 13.9% --- 13.5% --- Highway Deliverance Church of God, Deliverance or hurt you in any way? Temple, Greater Cannan Baptist Church, and Gary Christian Center. Homicide16 17.5* 17.5* 5.2 5.6 5.5 The quality of the neighborhood’s amenities is

15 Age-adjusted deaths per 100,000 population, 2008-2010 reflected in its low Walkscore of 42 (as measured Source: walkscore.com, 2015 th 16 Age-adjusted deaths per 100,000 population, 2008-2010 from the intersection of Georgia Street and 35 Avenue. A Walkscore of 42 indicates that the area is car-dependent, since most errands require a car. The Walkscore is low due to a lack of accessibility to grocery stores, other errands destinations, and culture and entertainment options.

MARCH 2016 67 NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES

Source: Farr Associates, 2015

68 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT EDUCATION AND YOUTH

EARLY LEARNING and renters choose. Renters are more likely to Corporation also operates a half-day Head Start enroll their children in Early Head Start/Head Start program at St. Mark’s Early Learning Center (388 EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM PARTICIPATION compared to homeowners (41% vs. 0%). On the Jackson Street), which serves 136 children ages other hand, homeowners are more likely to enroll three and four. While the majority of UP-East children appear to their children in Preschool (50% vs. 8%) or Other be enrolled in an early learning program, more child care centers (25% vs. 11%). Of the 21 providers in and near UP-East, three could benefit from this opportunity. According to are Child Care Centers, three are Ministries and U.S. Census data for 2010, an estimated 180 CHILD CARE FACILITIES 15 are Family Child Cares. All 21 are approved for children under the age of five live in UP-East. 22% Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Vouchers. of respondents to the UP-East neighborhood There appears to be sufficient capacity among The 15 providers where capacity is known have a survey stated that they have a child ages 0-5. This early learning providers in and around UP-East to combined capacity of 426: 17 slots for infants, 24 represents 50 children, or 28% of the estimated continue to expand enrollments to reach more for children up to age five, 65 for children up to total 0-5 population in the neighborhood. Of neighborhood children. There are eight licensed age six, 301 for children up to age 12, and 24 for these children, 61% are enrolled in an early or registered childcare providers located within children up to age 13. Given that an estimated learning program. Children are enrolled in a the UP-East boundaries; another 13 are located 180 children under the age of five and another 348 number of different early learning programs, with within a quarter-mile radius of a bus stop along ages 5-13 years live in UP-East, potential demand most in an Early Head Start/Head Start program.17 bus routes that serve UP-East (#21, #19, and seems fairly consistent with the available supply. #6). While not within this small radius, Geminus Based upon Neighborhood Resident Survey responses, homeowners are more likely to enroll their children in early learning (75%) than renters EARLY LEARNING ENROLLMENT (60%). There also appears to be a difference in what type of early learning programs homeowners

17 There is some additional data on early education enrollment that is not entirely consistent with the survey results. According to 2015 data from GCSC, 13 children from UP-East attend Bethune Early Childhood Development Center, the public preschool that serves the City of Gary. Assuming an even age distribution, of the 180 children ages 0-5, an estimated 36 children are four years old and eligible for the public preschool program. So the 13 enrollments represents 33.3% of the eligible population. This estimate exceeds the 14% enrolled in Preschool per the UP-East neighborhood survey. Furthermore, according to U.S. Census data, only 10 UP-East children age 3 and older attended nursery school/preschool in 2010. Assuming the population of 3 and 4 year olds is 72 of the 180 children under age 5, this represents 30.3%; only half of the estimated 61% enrolled per the neighborhood survey.

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

MARCH 2016 69 FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION’S PATHS TO QUALITY LEVELS

LEVEL ONE (1): Health and Safety Needs are Met. Paths to QUALITY For the 17 facilities where information is available, participants who meet Level 1, have demonstrated that they are operating in most open weekdays between 6:00am and 7:00am good standing and have been recognized by the state of Indiana to meet all and close between 5:30pm and 7:00pm. There do required health and safety standards. For homes and centers, this means that appear to be options for parents working non- they hold a current state license. For ministries, this means they have met the traditional hours. There are four providers that are voluntary certification standards. open until midnight, and another two are open 24 hours a day. In addition, one is open on Saturdays LEVEL TWO (2): Environment Supports Children's Learning. Paths to and another two are open seven days a week.18 QUALITY participants who achieve Level 2, have demonstrated a commitment to improve program quality and offer opportunities for children to advance Ratings of child care providers in and around their growth and development. Level 2 participants have demonstrated UP-East that participate in Paths to QUALITY participation in on-going training and professional development, having Program are relatively high, but nearly half do not achieved or working toward a degree or other nationally recognized child participate indicating that there may be room to care certification. Level 2 programs will have evidence of consistent daily work with providers to continue to improve quality. schedules, planned daily activities for children, and will provide relevant Of the 21 child care providers in and around program information to families. UP-East, 13 participate in the Family and Social LEVEL THREE (3): Planned Curriculum Supports Children's Development. Services Administration’s Paths to QUALITY (PTQ) Paths to QUALITY participants who achieve Level 3 have demonstrated program. PTQ is a free and voluntary program knowledge and skill to plan appropriate activities and opportunities for that aims to help providers improve the quality children that lead to school readiness. Level 3 participants use child of care provided to children. Each level builds observations, assessments, and portfolios to design activities which are on the previous level, resulting in significant inviting, engaging, and challenging to all children in their care. Level 3 improvements at each stage. Providers can programs have made a significant investment in the professional development choose not to participate in PTQ; participation in of the staff and lead caregiver, and incorporate family and staff input into the the program is not an indication that the provider program. is substandard or does not provide a quality setting for children. LEVEL FOUR (4): Achieves National Accreditation. Paths to QUALITY participants who achieve Level 4 have demonstrated a commitment to the highest level of professionalism in child care, achievement of a nationally recognized accreditation. To achieve accreditation, programs volunteer to be measured against rigorous national standards. Level 4 providers have achieved accreditation and are also managed by a provider or director who has achieved a degree or equivalent and has volunteered to provide mentoring to others in the field.

Source: www.childcareindiana.org 18 Report from Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral (IACCRA) provided by Geminus, dated June 2015

70 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT CHILDCARE PROVIDERS (ZIP CODES 46409, 46407)

Source: Report from Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral (IACCRA) provided by Geminus, June 2015; City of Gary GIS, April 2015

MARCH 2016 71 Of the 13 providers that do participate, three are SCHOOLS in the highest achievable category of Quality Level 4 (38% of all slots), two are Quality Level 3 (24%), UP-East students attend many different schools 175 of these students are enrolled in a GCSC one is Quality Level 2 (15%), and seven are in the throughout the city including public, charter, school as of September 2015.20 This represents entry level category of Quality Level 1- Entry Level and private institutions. Based upon estimates 33% of the estimated total school-age population 19 (20%). using 2010 census data, there are approximately in the neighborhood. 532 children and youth ages 5-18 years in UP- In addition, five of the 21 accessible programs East. However, it is possible based upon other Enrollment data is not currently available for the are “On My Way Pre-K” approved programs, recent data that this estimate is high and that estimated 357 remaining school age children representing 265 (62%) of the known slots. On the neighborhood population may have shrunk (67%). My Way Pre-K is Indiana’s first state-funded pre- in recent years resulting in a smaller pool of kindergarten program, which was approved as a neighborhood students. pilot by the Indiana General Assembly in 2014. It currently serves about 400 children but is expected to ultimately serve more than 2,000 students in five counties. More information is available at www. GCSC POPULATION FROM UP-EAST: GCSC POPULATION FROM UP-EAST: onmywayprek.org. Parents must qualify and are DISTRIBUTION BY SCHOOL DISTRIBUTION BY GRADE selected by the lottery. Grade # School # It is also worth noting that three of the programs, KG 16 representing 38% of the known slots, are Bailly Preparatory Academy 78 accredited: one via National Early Childhood 1 15 Glen Park Academy 28 Program Accreditation (NECPA), and two via 2 12 National Association for Family Child Care New Tech 19 3 21 (NAFCC). West Side Leadership Academy 14 4 16 Wirt/Emerson Visual and Performing Arts 10 5 18 Williams Annex 8 6 13 7 14 Williams Elementary 5 8 10 Banneker Elementary 4 9 11 Jefferson Elementary 3 10 11 19 Report from Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and McCullough Academy for Girls 2 Referral (IACCRA) provided by Geminus, dated June 2015 11 8 Dr. Bernard Watson 1 12 10 20 The 175 excludes the 13 Pre-K students currently enrolled in the preschool program at Bethune Early Childhood Center. TOTAL 175 TOTAL 175 Source: Gary Community School Corporation enrollment data, September 2015 Source: Gary Community School Corporation enrollment data, September 2015

72 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT According to the neighborhood survey, SCHOOL ENROLLMENT: HOMEOWNERS VS The quality of the schools attended by UP-East approximately 51% of school-age children attend RENTERS students varies widely. Of the students attending a GCSC school, 18% attend a charter, 14% attend GCSC schools, only a small number of UP-East a public school outside of Gary, 7% are not Households students attend high-performing schools (7%). attending school, 5% attend a private/faith-based with school Homeowners Renters The vast majority of students attend either an school and another 5% attend another institution. age children average school (54%) or a low-performing school The percentage of students enrolled in GCSC is (39%). higher than estimated from census data. This may GCSC 51% 26% 62% indicate the neighborhood survey respondents are School Despite the mixed school performance, the not representative of the households with school majority of UP-East parents who responded to age children or it may, as noted above, indicate the neighborhood survey rated the quality of Charter 18% 32% 13% that the total number of school age currently living School education their child is receiving as excellent in the neighborhood has declined since the 2010 (22%) or good (33%). A small percentage rated census data was collected. It is not entirely clear. the quality as below average (9%) or poor (6%). Non-Gary However, 45% of households with children thought Public 14% 16% 13% This enrollment information is also a bit at odds better schools was one of the most needed School with data provided by the Boys and Girls Club improvements for the neighborhood. of Northwest Indiana regarding enrollment for the 52 UP-East students that participated in their Other 5% 11% 2% Among UP-East parents with children attending programming as of July 2015. These 52 students school, private/faith-based schools received the Private/ represent approximately 11% of the overall highest ratings; 83% of parents with a child at this Faith Based 5% 11% 2% student population in the UP-East neighborhood. School type of school rated the school excellent or good. According to this sample, 50.0% attend a charter 71% rated charter schools excellent or good. Only school, 3.8% attend a private school, 40.4% attend Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 51% rated GCSC schools as excellent or good. a GCSC school, and 5.8% attend a school outside of Gary. The five charters attended by the Boys It is also possible that some school age and Girls Club participants are 21st Century, Thea students are not enrolled in school at all. In the Bowman Elementary, Thea Bowman High School, neighborhood survey, as many as 7% of school- Aspire, and Gary Lighthouse. age children are not attending school. According to WorkOne, 152 GCSC students dropped out Of note, children of homeowners were more likely in 2013.21 Based on the 2014 district enrollment to attend a charter school than children of renters of 7,566, this represents about 2% of the student and less likely to attend a GCSC public school. body.22 So if 7% are not attending, this would be 21 State of the Workforce Report: Northwest Indiana 2014, significantly higher than one would expect to see WorkOne Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, Inc. representationally. 22 Indiana Department of Education, 2013-2014 Report Cards

MARCH 2016 73 Many UP-East students travel significant distances to school. The table below provides the name of each of the schools numbered in the accompanying map. Schools highlighted in yellow are where known UP-East students are enrolled. # School Name Distance Gary Community School Corporation-Secondary New Tech High School located in the Gary 12 Williams Annex <2 Area Career Center is the only GCSC school in 13 Gary Area Career Center/New Tech UPE the UP-East neighborhood. It currently serves 14 William A Wirt/ Emerson VPA 3+ 19 neighborhood students, representing approximately 3.6% of the UP-East student 15 West Side Leadership Academy 3+ population. Gary Community School Corporation-Early Learning 16 Bethune Early Childhood Development Center <2 There are three private schools located within a Public Charter Schools mile radius of the center of the neighborhood: 17 21st Century Charter School of Gary (K-12) <3 Christian Academy Ministry, Spiritual Educational 18 Aspire Charter Academy (K-8) 3+ Institute, and Team Academy. However, it is 19 Charter School of the Dunes (K-8) 3+ unclear if any UP-East students attend these 20 Gary Lighthouse Charter School (K-12) <2 schools. The vast majority of UP-East students 21 Kipp Lead College Prep Charter School (5-9) 3+ appear to attend schools at least a mile from the 22 Thea Bowman Leadership Academy (K-12) <3 neighborhood, and in some cases up to three 23 West Gary Lighthouse Charter School (K-5) 3+ miles away. Private Schools 24 Ambassador Academy <2 25 Apostolic Christian Academy (K-12) 3+ # School Name Distance 26 Christ Baptist Christian Academy (PK-6) 3+ Gary Community School Corporation-Elementary 27 Christian Academy Ministry (PK-6) <1 1 Bailly Preparatory Academy <2 28 Life With Hope Preparatory Academy (PK-12) <3 2 Benjamin Banneker Achievement Center 3+ 29 M C Bennett Holiness School (PK-6) 3+ 3 Beveridge Elementary School <3 30 Mosaic Community School (K-5) <3 4 Dr. Bernard C Watson Academy For Boys <2 31 Prep Acad/Career Inst (PK-12) <3 5 Frankie W McCullough Academy For Girls 3+ 32 SDA Mizpah Church School (PK-8) <2 6 Glen Park Academy For Excellence In Learning <2 33 Senior Thea Bowman Elementary School (PK-6) <3 7 Jefferson Elementary School <3 34 Spirit Of God Accelerated School <3 8 Jacques Marquette Elementary School 3+ 35 Spiritual Educational Inst (PK-12) <1 9 Daniel Hale Williams Elementary School <2 36 Team Academy (PK-4) <1 10 Theodore Roosevelt College and Career Academy* <2 37 Trinity Freeway Academy (9-12) <3 11 Westside Lincoln Achievement Center 3+ 38 Veritas Laboratory Academy (PK-12) <2

74 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT GARY SCHOOLS

Source: http://www.garycsc.k12.in.us/schools/

MARCH 2016 75 OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME Letter Grade PROGRAMMING High Performing School Out-of-school time programming for UP-East Williams Elementary A students is limited. A seven-week summer Banneker Elementary A program is offered at Ivy Tech for youth in grades McCullough Academy for Girls A 6-8, but the continuation of this summer program Subtotal is dependent upon funding. Approximately 52 (11.4%) of the estimated 458 UP-East youth Average Performing School ages 6-17 participate in Boys and Girls Club of Bailly Preparatory Academy B Northwest Indiana programming at their 2700 W. Wirt/Emerson Visual and Performing Arts C th 19 Avenue location. Some programming is also Dr. Bernard Watson C available through the City of Gary Youth Services Subtotal Bureau at a number of locations throughout the City; however, none of them are in the Low Performing School neighborhood. It is not clear how many UP-East Glen Park Academy D students are accessing those programs. New Tech F West Side Leadership Academy F When asked about immediate service needs in the neighborhood survey, the top response was Jefferson Elementary F youth programs identified by 21% of UP-East Subtotal respondents. In addition, 41% of UP-East parents Total* that completed the neighborhood survey, said Source: Gary Community School Corporation enrollment data, provided September that their school-age children are not enrolled 15, 2015; Indiana Department of Education, 2013-2014 Report Cards in any youth programming. The top five types *excludes Bethune Early Development Center (16 students) and Williams Annex (8 of youth programs in which UP-East students do students) which were not rated by Indiana DOE for 2013-2014 school year. participate include college preparation (25%), sports/recreation (21%), tutoring (18%), arts/music programs (18%) and faith-based/church-based youth programs (16%).

76 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT MARCH 2016 77

ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS

6 79 UNIVERSITIES The entire facility is anticipated to be in full IUN and Ivy Tech are widely considered to be operation by 2017 and includes classrooms and major assets to build upon for the UP-East informal study spaces to be shared by both IUN neighborhood as well as the city. and Ivy Tech. Major features include a 500-seat performing arts venue and smaller performance area referred to as a “black box” theater.23 INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST (IUN)

IUN is a 63-acre regional campus for the Indiana IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE-GARY University state system and was established in 1963. The campus is located on the west side Ivy Tech Community College has 32 campuses of Broadway just north of 35th Avenue. With a throughout the state of Indiana making it the student enrollment of just over 6,000 students largest post-secondary institution in the state. in the fall of 2014, the college consists primarily Enrollment at Ivy Tech-Gary is around 3,800 of undergraduate students, and offers both full- students per year. The college, which charges time and part-time enrollment. IUN offers a wide around $4,000 per year, offers degrees focused on range of degrees in subjects including Liberal entrepreneurship, early childhood development, Arts, Business, Natural and Social Sciences, and and urban agriculture. Healthcare. Indiana University Northwest A new three-story, 126,300-square-foot building is under construction on the northeast corner of Broadway and 35th Avenue. The building is seen not only as an educational enhancement to IUN, but also as a “cornerstone” for redevelopment goals in the 2013 University Park Plan.

Half of the building will house IUN’s fine and performing arts programs along with academic and administration space for the College of Arts and Sciences. Ivy Tech science programs and a “one-stop shop” for enrollment and admission programs will occupy 30% of the building.

23 "IUN Project Called University Park 'cornerstone'" Nwitimes.com. Accessed March 02, 2016. http://www.nwitimes.com/ news/local/lake/gary/iun-project-called-university-park-cornerstone/ Ivy Tech Community College, Gary Campus article_812467d1-607b-5c32-b9ec-2a14884ff8a3.html.

80 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS

INDIANA UNIVERSITY IVY TECH NORTHWEST NEW IUN GARY AREA COMMUNITY BUILDING CAREER CENTER COLLEGE

Source: City of Gary GIS Data, April 2015

MARCH 2016 81

CHAPTEREMPLOYERS TITLE

7 83 INCOME SOURCES OF INCOME University City of Lake Park East Gary County The average median household income in UP-East is $23,836; this is only slightly less than the median Median household income $23,836 $26,885 $49,035 income in the City but less than half of the median Per capita income $10,754 $15,931 $23,918 income in Lake County. Approximately one-third 16,480 184 (32.9%) 6,098 (32.8%) of families have an income below poverty, which is Families below poverty (13.8%) comparable to the City but 2.5 times that of Lake 19,581 137,590 Households with earnings 499 (67.4%) County. Furthermore, nearly half of all families (63.5%) (75.6%) received Food Stamp/SNAP benefits in the past 12 Households with SSI 149 (20.1%) 3,989 (12.9%) 11,600 (6.4%) months, far more than in the City, and three times those in Lake County. Households with cash public assistance 36 (4.9%) 1,874 (6.1%) 5,571 (3.2%) 10,503 28,656 343 (46.4%) Yet, the percentage of households in UP-East Households with Food Stamps/SNAP benefits in past 12 mo. (34.0%) (15.7%) with earnings is slightly higher the City, and not 14,560 47,890 much lower than Lake County. Also, households 397 (53.6%) Income less than $24,999 (47.1%) (26.3%) receiving cash assistance is fairly low; the rate is below that of the City. Both statistics seem to Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 ACS 5-year indicate that while many UP-East residents are working, they are working in low-wage jobs. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT It is also worth noting that 1 in 5 UP-East University City of Gary Lake County Northwest households receive Supplemental Security Income Park East Indiana (SSI), compared to 1 in 8 in the City, and 1 in 15 in Lake County. This high rate of SSI is also consistent Less than 9th grade 171 (11.6%) 2,499 (4.9%) 15,369 (4.7%) 4% with UP-East’s high rate of households with a 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 227 (15.4%) 6,270 (12.3%) 26,979 (8.3%) 8% member that has a disability. High school diploma (includes equivalency) 498 (33.7%) 18,899 (37.0%) 117,410 (36.1%) 38% Some college, no degree 310 (21.0%) 13,445 (26.3%) 76,546 (23.5%) 22% Associate degree 147 (10.0%) 3,742 (7.3%) 24,748 (7.6%) 8% Bachelor’s degree 87 (5.9%) 4,126 (8.1%) 42,667 (13.1%) 13% Graduate or professional degree 37 (2.5%) 2,158 (4.2%) 21,682 (6.7%) 7%

Source: State of the Workforce Report: Northwest Indiana 2014, WorkOne Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, Inc.; US Census Bureau, 2013 ACS 5-year

84 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT MEDIAN EARNINGS BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL Northwest Lake County EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Indiana More than one in four UP-East residents (26.9%) Less than high school diploma $20,538 $20,736 has less than a high school diploma, which is High school diploma (includes equivalency) $29,789 $29,501 higher than the City and more than double the rate in Lake County and Northwest Indiana. Some college or Associate’s degree $34,101 $32,997 According to the State of the Workforce Bachelor’s degree $46,296 $47,865 Report: Northwest Indiana 2011, high school graduation rates in Northwest Indiana are Graduate or professional degree $61,205 $63,203 trending upwards, most recently with an 11.3% decrease in the number of dropouts. However, Source: State of the Workforce Report: Northwest Indiana 2014, WorkOne Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, Inc. the Gary Community School Corporation’s (GCSC) 2013 Graduation Rate was 68.9%, the lowest in Northwest Indiana and substantially below the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL: NORTHWEST INDIANA regional average of 88.4%. An estimated 152 GCSC students dropped out in 2013, representing 13% of the regional total.24

The rates of UP-East residents with a high school diploma or some college begin to approximate the City, County, and Northwest Indiana rates. The rates of Associate’s degrees actually exceed that of the City, County, and Northwest Indiana.

The State of the Workforce Report: Northwest Indiana 2014 notes that the more educated a worker is the more he or she earns. Workers with less than a high school diploma earn the least Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2008-2012 American Community Survey and have the highest rates of unemployment. Workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher have the highest earning potential and lowest rates of unemployment.

24 State of the Workforce Report: Northwest Indiana 2014, WorkOne Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, Inc.

MARCH 2016 85 In addition, according to WorkOne, the Northwest EMPLOYMENT are working or actively looking for work, 34% said Indiana Workforce Investment Board, regional nothing; they have no problem finding or keeping employers are increasingly seeking workers with The unemployment rate in UP-East (29.6%) is job. The top five challenges to employment more than a high school education. Associate’s high. This is higher than the City of Gary, and is are: disability/health restriction (16%), affordable and bachelor’s degrees are decently supplied nearly three times the rate for Lake County. It is childcare (15%), caring for a family member who relative to need; however, more certificates also worth noting that more than half of residents is sick or disabled (14%), no job experience (11%) are required to meet the demands of growing 16 years and older are not in the labor force; this and no job opportunities available (11%). economic sectors. Comparing current educational rate, which is higher than the City and the County, supply and demand, 37.8% of today’s in-demand may reflect the higher rates of persons with Aside from IUN and Ivy Tech, the largest jobs in Northwest Indiana require a high school disabilities, enrolled in school full-time or retired. employment centers are found in the northern part diploma, which is much lower than the 57.4% of The proximity of the neighborhood to IUN and of the City concentrated around US Steel/Gary job seekers who have this credential; however, Ivy Tech, may also be a contributing factor, since Works, Methodist Hospitals-Northlake, the City of 30.0% of in-demand jobs require a postsecondary residents could be attending school full or part- Gary offices, and the casinos along the lakefront. certification, which far exceeds the 9.7% of job time and therefore less likely to be in the labor Accessing these employment centers outside of seekers in the region who have this credential.25 force. UP-East is relatively easy via public transportation on Broadway, and will only become easier with the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs The UP-East neighborhood survey asked implementation of the rapid bus system. present an important avenue to better prepare respondents “What makes it hard for you to find students for postsecondary opportunities or and/or keep work?” Among respondents who work. Ivy Tech and the Gary Area Career Center, both located in the UP-East neighborhood, are invaluable assets that offer just such opportunities. EMPLOYMENT STATUS According to WorkOne, 2014 CTE enrollments University City of Lake Northwest in Northwest Indiana totaled 29,429; however, Park East Gary County Indiana there were only 3,868 individuals (13.1%) who Population 16 yrs+ 1,934 60,828 383,289 --- have completed at least six credits in a single CTE 31,265 239,124 In Labor Force 945 (48.9%) pathway. Career exploration is one benefit of CTE (51.4%) (62.4%) that prevents students from investing too much 24,906 211,423 in a career they eventually abandon. However, Employed 665 (34.4%) WorkOne notes that encouraging students to (40.9%) (55.2%) stay focused on following a single pathway may Unemployed 280 (14.5%) 6,359 (10.5%) 27,701 (7.2%) ultimately yield the best result in terms of raising 29,563 144,165 the number of students who achieve a certificate Not in labor force 989 (51.1%) (48.6%) (37.6%) or degree. Unemployed (Among those in the labor force) 29.6% 20.3% 11.6% 7.2%1 25 State of the Workforce Report: Northwest Indiana 2014, WorkOne Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, Inc. Source: State of the Workforce Report: Northwest Indiana 2014, WorkOne Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, Inc.

86 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT EMPLOYMENT CENTERS

University Park East

N Not to scale

Source: onthemap, US Census, 2015

MARCH 2016 87 Given the proximity of Ivy Tech and IUN, it is not • Professional Services – this cluster includes NORTHWEST INDIANA surprising that many UP-East residents work in firms from a wide array of backgrounds, TOP INDUSTRY CLUSTERS education. According to the 2013 American such as banking services, insurance Community Survey, 32.6% of UP-East workers are sales, architects, engineers, lawyers, and • Primary Metal employed in the Educational Services industry and accountants. Manufacturing 13.5% state their occupation is education, training • Hospitality, Entertainment, • Petroleum and Coal and library. This is three times the rate of both the Amusement, Recreation, and Tourism Products Manufacturing City and the County. – this encompasses industries such as • Rail Transportation Several of the top 10 industries (accommodation restaurant, casinos, movie theaters, and and food services, health care and social accommodation services.26 • Pipeline Transportation assistance, and manufacturing) and occupations • Truck Transportation (healthcare support and transportation/material COMMUTE TO WORK moving) in UP-East are growth industries in • Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries Northwest Indiana as identified by WorkOne: Commute times for UP-East workers are relatively Utilities • Advanced Manufacturing – a sector that short; however, far more are reliant upon • carpooling and public transit than other workers bundles manufacturers that utilize cutting- TOP OCCUPATION CLUSTERS: edge technology to enhance production. in the City and County. More than two out of three workers commute less than 30 minutes, which is • Rail Transportation Workers • Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics comparable to the City and slightly higher than – a sector that combines firms that plan, • Metal Workers and Plastic the County. Relatively few (less than 1%) travel Workers manage, and move people, materials, more than 60 minutes to work, which is much and goods by road, pipeline, air, rail, and lower than the City and the County rates. • Plant and System Operators water. This includes related professional and technical support services such as Source: State of the Workforce Report: Northwest Indiana 2014, Although more than two out of three drive alone, WorkOne Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, Inc. transportation infrastructure planning and the rate of car ownership among UP-East residents management, logistics services, mobile (77.0%) is lower than that of the City and the equipment, and facility maintenance. County. Perhaps due to this lower ownership rate, • Healthcare and Social Support – this there are higher rates of workers who carpool and/ cluster includes establishments who or use public transportation in UP-East compared provide medical services and/or social to the City and the County.27 assistance, such as hospitals and assisted living centers. 26 State of the Workforce Report: Northwest Indiana 2014, WorkOne Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, Inc.

27 US Census Bureau, 2013 ACS 5-year

88 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT TOP 10 INDUSTRIES OF UP-EAST COMPARED TO CITY AND COUNTY TOP 10 OCCUPATIONS OF UP-EAST COMPARED TO CITY AND COUNTY University City of Lake University City of Lake Park East Gary County Park East Gary County 2481 12,402 Educational Services 181 (32.6%) 18,870 (8.9%) Education, training, and library 90 (13.5%) 1578 (6.3%) (10.0%) (5.7%) 2294 Accommodation and food services 109 (19.6%) 15,958 (7.6%) 28,693 (9.2%) Office and administrative support 77 (11.6%) 3039 (12.2%) (13.6%) 2438 24,536 Retail Trade 71 (12.8%) (9.8%) (11.6%) 13,250 Food preparation/serving related 75 (11.3%) 1788 (7/2%) 4618 30,906 (6.3%) Health care and social assistance 60 (10.8%) (18.6%) (14.6%) 13,287 Healthcare support 73 (11.0%) 1096 (4.4%) (6.3%) Administrative and support and waste 55 1199 (9.9%) (4.8%) 7,665 (3.6%) Building and grounds cleaning and 65 management 1797 (7.2%) 9,245 (4.4%) maintenance (9.8%) 46 3673 32,136 Manufacturing 60 22,110 (8.3%) (14.8%) (15.2%) Sales and related 2503 (10.1%) (9.0%) (10.5%) 42 56 Arts, entertainment, and recreation (7.6%) 981 (3.9%) 6,106 (2.9%) Protective service 1074 (4.3%) 5,590 (2.6%) (8.4%) 27 43 18,696 Real estate and rental and leasing 539 (2.2%) 3,354 (1.6%) Transportation/material moving 2557 (10.3%) (4.9%) (6.5%) (8.8%) 27 31 16,438 Construction (4.9%) 760 (3.1%) 13,572 (6.4%) Management 1357 (5.5%) (4.7%) (7.8%) Other services except public 24 981 (3.9%) 10,467 (5.0%) 26 558 administration (4.3%) Installation, maintenance and repair 9,183 (4.3%) Sources: US Census Bureau, 2013 ACS 5-year (3.9%) (2.2%) Sources: US Census Bureau, 2013 ACS 5-year COMMUTING TO WORK University City of Gary Lake County Park East 1 or more vehicles available 570 25,538 (82.8%) 166,796 (91.6%) (77.0%) Car, truck, or van – drove alone 441 19,473 (80.7%) 175,573 (84.9%) (69.3%) Car, truck, or van -- carpooled 121 2,224 16,101 (7.8%) (19.0%) (9.2%) Public Transportation 74 897 5,737 (2.8%) (11.6%) (3.7%) Travel Time to Work Less than 30 minutes 427 15,982 (67.5%) 121,593 (60.0%) (67.1%) 30 to 60 minutes 203 5,895 (24.9%) 59,828 (29.5%) (31.9%) More than 60 minutes 6 1,812 21,147 (10.4%) (0.9%) (7.6%) Sources: US Census Bureau, 2013 ACS 5-year

MARCH 2016 89 90 HEALTH & WELLNESS

8 91 HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE to have experienced difficulties or delays of some Top Community Health Concerns kind in receiving needed healthcare in the past Healthcare insurance coverage rates in UP-East are year and to perceive local healthcare services as Community HealthNet Service Area low. According to the U.S. Census, 32.1% of UP- fair/poor. · Access to Healthcare Services (includes East residents have no health insurance coverage, Transportation) including 4.0% of children under the age of 18. Residents of UP-East are more likely to experience · Health Education and Prevention This is much higher than the citywide rate and poorer overall health and higher rates of chronic · Obesity more than twice the county rate.28 health issues than the general population. · Substance Abuse According to the neighborhood survey, 1 in 3 UP- · Mental Health However, given the passage of the Affordable East head of households rate their own health Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Service Area Care Act, it is possible that this rate has improved as fair, poor, or very poor. The rate is slightly · Access to Health Services in recent years. This could be the reason why only higher (37%) for other adults in their household. · Heart Disease & Stroke 15% of the UP-East residents who responded to However, it is slightly better for children as 1 in 4 · Diabetes the neighborhood survey said they do not have (26%) parents rate the health of their children as · Nutrition, Physical Activity & Weight Status insurance. fair, poor, or very poor. This is consistent with the · Cancer subpopulation data from the Community Health · Family Planning ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE Needs Assessments for Low-Income residents and · Maternal & Child Health much higher than the general population. Nearly half of the UP-East neighborhood survey Sources: 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessments respondents state they most often go to one of Nearly three in four UP-East residents (74%) stated the local hospitals when in need of health advice in the neighborhood survey that a member of Needs Assessment also noted the cost and lack rather than a primary care doctor (Methodist their household suffers from a chronic health of access to healthy foods (i.e. food desert) as well Hospitals Northlake-26%; Methodist Hospitals issue, the most common of which include: asthma as the need for nutrition and cooking education in Southlake-17%; and Other hospital or urgent care- (29%), hypertension (26%), diabetes (21%), and the service area. Regarding physical activity, these 5%). While 26% of UP-East neighborhood survey depression (13%). Some of these rates appear focus groups discussed issues of screen time, lack respondents said they have no unmet health even higher than those reported by low-income of awareness of local opportunities, the cost of needs; 32% said they need dental services, 31% and Black residents in the Community Health organized sports, and safety concerns as potential need eye care and 17% say they need primary Needs Assessments and certainly higher than the issues preventing residents from leading a more care. general population. active lifestyle. These findings appear to be comparable to the Additionally, per the Community Health These focus groups also noted the prevalence low-income sub-populations in the 2012 PRC Needs Assessments, low-income residents of substance abuse in the service areas including Community Health Needs Assessments who are like those living in UP-East are less likely to eat that of tobacco. In the Community Needs also less likely than the general population to have the recommended daily servings of fruits and Assessments, they noted a general belief that a Specific Source of Ongoing Medical Care, i.e. a vegetables or participate in leisure-time physical there is a high prevalence of illicit drug use, that primary care doctor. This group is also more likely activity. Focus groups for the Community Health 28 US Census Bureau, 2013 ACS 5-year

92 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT Top Community Health Concerns RATES OF UNINSURED UP-East City of Lake Community HealthNet Inc. Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Community HealthNet Service Area Gary County Service Area Service Area · Access to Healthcare Services (includes Overall Low- Black Overall Low- Black Transportation) income income · Health Education and Prevention Adults 32.1% 18.9% 14.7% 16.7% 33.7% 21.5% 25.8% 44.6% 28.1% · Obesity Children 4.0% 1.3% 1.7% ------· Substance Abuse · Mental Health Sources: US Census Bureau, 2013 ACS 5-year 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Community HealthNet Inc. Service Area, sponsored by Community HealthNet Inc. 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Service Area, sponsored by Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Service Area · Access to Health Services · Heart Disease & Stroke · Diabetes HEALTHCARE ACCESS · Nutrition, Physical Activity & Weight Status Community HealthNet Methodist Hospitals- Lake Indiana United Healthy · Cancer Inc. Service Area Northlake Service Area County States People · Family Planning Overall Low- Black Overall Low- Black 2020 · Maternal & Child Health income income Target Sources: 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessments Have a Specific Source of Ongoing 74.7% 65.9% 70.5% 67.9% 57.6% 72.1% ------76.3% 95% Medical Care Experienced Difficulties or Delays 42.6% 53.3% 46.9% 46.9% 53.6% 45.2% ------37.3% --- of Some Kind in Receiving Needed Healthcare in the Past Year

Have Visited a Dentist or Dental 59.6% 41.0% 48.7% 49.8% 37.8% 49.1% --- 68.8% 66.9% 49% Clinic Within the Past Year

Child Has Visited a Dentist or Dental 83.7% ------78.8% ------79.2% 49% Clinic Within the Past Year

Perceive Local Healthcare Services as 15.1% 24.8% 22.6% 21.4% 30.7% 27.0% ------15.3% --- Fair/Poor Lack of Prenatal Care in First ------41.6% 33.1% --- 22.1% Trimester29 Sources: 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Community HealthNet Inc. Service Area, Lake County, Indiana sponsored by Community HealthNet Inc. 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Service Area, Lake County, Indiana sponsored by Methodist Hospitals-Northlake

29 Percentage of Live Births, 2007-2009

MARCH 2016 93 drugs are easy to access, and that parents are Many residents of UP-East experience poor mental In addition, the Community Health Assessments’ complacent about use by children. In addition, the health. According to the neighborhood survey, focus groups noted that the region lacks adequate number of substance abuse treatment programs 13% of UP-East households reported having a behavioral health treatment options because is limited and inadequately funded. They also household member who suffers from depression hospital inpatient facilities remain full; the majority noted that tobacco use is prevalent throughout and 9% have someone suffering from extreme of psychiatrists have long waitlists; and few accept the community - particularly among Low-income stress or anxiety. These rates appear to be higher Medicaid. These issues are compounded by a residents - and smoking cessation resources are than the overall population in the Community stigma that impacts resident willingness to access limited. According to the neighborhood survey, Health Assessment data below, albeit it behavioral healthcare, often resulting in self- 14% of UP-East households said they have an comparable or less than the black and low-income medication with drugs and alcohol.31 unmet need for smoking cessation services and subpopulations in this assessment. 7% for alcohol/drug treatment services.

HEALTH CONDITION Community HealthNet Inc. Methodist Hospitals- Indiana United Healthy Service Area Northlake Service Area States People Overall Low- Black Overall Low- Black 2020 income income Target Experience Fair to Poor Overall Health 20.2% 33.2% 24.3% 24.1% 29.2% 24.7% 18.9% 16.8% --- Present One or More Cardiovascular Risks or 86.6% 91.9% 90.8% 92.0% 93.2% 94.8% --- 86.3% --- Behaviors30 Currently Have Asthma 7.6% 9.5% 8.4% 7.9% 11.3% 9.4% 9.6% 7.5% --- Child Currently Has Asthma 8.7% ------11.8% ------6.8% --- Prevalence of Diabetes 14.3% 19.2% 17.4% 16.8% 17.4% 16.5% 10.2% 10.1% --- Consume Five or More Servings of Fruits/ 32.3% 21.8% 29.5% 32.3% 27.5% 28.4% --- 48.8% --- Vegetables Per Day No Leisure-Time Physical Activity in the Past 31.0% 41.0% 31.9% 37.5% 39.9% 39.4% 29.2% 28.7% --- Month Prevalence of Obesity 36.4% 42.7% 43.8% 41.5% 42.9% 44.0% 30.8% 28.5% --- Child Obesity Prevalence 24.7% ------24.1% ------18.9% 14.6% During the past 30 days have you used an illegal 3.8% ------3.1% ------1.7% --- drug or taken a prescription drug that was not prescribed to you? Tobacco Use 23.2% 31.3% 22.5% 24.6% 28.3% 22.9% 25.6% 16.6% 12%

Sources: 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Community HealthNet Inc. Service Area, Lake County, Indiana sponsored by Community HealthNet Inc. 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Service Area, Lake County, Indiana sponsored by Methodist Hospitals-Northlake

94 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT MENTAL HEALTH Community HealthNet Inc. Methodist Hospitals- United Northlake Service Area States Service Area Overall Low- Black Overall Low- Black income income Experience Fair or Poor Mental Health 11.2% 17.8% 13.0% 11.1% 15.0% 9.7% 11.7% Would you please tell me if you have ever suffered from or been 9.0% ------7.3% ------11.7% diagnosed with major depression by a doctor? Have you had two or more years in your life when you felt depressed 25.4% ------29.2% ------26.5% or sad most days, even if you felt okay sometimes? Thinking about the stress in your life, would you say that most days are: Extremely stressful 3.9% ------2.7% ------1.7% Very stressful 6.7% ------6.5% ------9.8% Moderately stressful 47.9% ------43.4% ------42.1% Not very stressful 25.7% ------30.1% ------31.3% Not at all stressful 15.8% ------17.3% ------15.1% Have you ever sought help from a professional for a mental or 19.6% ------15.5% ------24.4% emotional problem? Does this child currently take medication for Attention-Deficit/ 5.8% ------6.4% ------6.5% Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention-Deficit Disorder, also call ADHD or ADD?

Sources: 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Community HealthNet Inc. Service Area, Lake County, Indiana sponsored by Community HealthNet Inc. 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Service Area, Lake County, Indiana sponsored by Methodist Hospitals-Northlake

30 Risk factors include being overweight, smoking cigarettes, being physically inactive or having high blood pressure or cholesterol

31 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Community HealthNet Inc. Service Area, Lake County, Indiana sponsored by Community HealthNet Inc. and 2012 PRC Community Health Needs Assessment, Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Service Area, Lake County, Indiana sponsored by Methodist Hospitals-Northlake

MARCH 2016 95 96 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT PREVIOUS PLANNING EFFORTS & REPORTS

9 97 UNIVERSITY PARK PLAN (2003) UNIVERSITY PARK PLAN Most relevant to the current planning process (2013 UPDATE) in UP-East is the 2003 University Park Plan. This Within 10 years of the 2003 University Park Plan, plan was the first attempt at identifying the many of the development goals were completed, neighborhood boundaries and setting forth a including: the Glen Park Family Services Building plan to realize the neighborhood’s potential. This (2004), the new IUN “MedEd” Building (2006), and neighborhood was identified four years earlier the reopening of the Glen Theater as a performing in Gary’s strategic plan as a revitalization node arts venue in 2007. The City issued an update where the City was committed to pursue major of the plan in 2013 to reassess the conditions of redevelopment efforts. The University Park Plan University Park and provide updates to the 2003 provided an initial overview of the neighborhood, recommendations. including residential housing assessment, retail profile, identification of neighborhood assets and Specific updated recommendations include: (1) institutions, transportation and access, and parks integrate campus and neighborhood planning and open space. The neighborhood’s vision in efforts; (2) assemble land along the key corridors 2003 was to have an attractive range of housing to facilitate redevelopment; (3) engage the stock supported by active storefronts on corridors, community and initiate a placemaking strategy with growing educational institutions. Strong to enliven University Park; (4) focus the use of emphasis was placed on Broadway regaining public resources from various entities on high its prominence as a vibrant, historic commercial impact, high visibility projects; (5) amend the corridor as well as on improving the streetscape zoning code along Broadway and 35th Avenue along other streets in the neighborhood. to facilitate the type of development envisioned in the plan; (6) work with Indiana Small Business Development Center, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, and the Small Business Administration to help entrepreneurs start businesses in University Park, and support the businesses already operating; and (7) establish a permanent board and staff position with a budget funded by various stakeholders to ensure that relationships are maintained and collaboration in University Park continues for years to come.

98 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT BIKE/PED ASSESSMENT REPORT 2015 LIVABLE BROADWAY REGIONAL PLAN CREATING LIVABLE COMMUNITIES (INDOT/FHWA) The Livable Broadway Regional Plan (2015) is a 2013 (NIRPC) Over 60 people attended the Federal Highway coordinated approach between the Gary Public The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Department of Transportation bicycle and Transportation Corporation (GPTC), the Indiana Commission (NIRPC) worked with planners pedestrian assessment in Gary on April 16, 2015. Department of Transportation (INDOT), and and municipality representatives to determine The City was selected because it had all the modal municipalities along Broadway to improve the where ‘livable centers’ are in Northwest Indiana. elements including pedestrian and bicycle activity, corridor for all users. The plan looked at ways Municipalities were chosen based on NIRPC’s railroads, heavy trucks, highways, commuter to increase public transit efficiency and improve analysis and the municipality’s plans. NIRPC’s rail and fixed transit routes. The 35th Avenue the transit experience along the corridor. New analysis highlighted areas that are dense corridor in UP-East between IUN and Ivy Tech was signage, better amenities, and predictable and walkable, typically with small block sizes; chosen for a bicycle assessment. This assessment timetables were among the many improvements population and employment density; and access served to inform multi-modal transportation proposed. The long-term strategy included to transit, education, and civic halls. The NIRPC recommendations in UP-East. Notable discoveries rapid (limited stop) service to decrease travel team identified the IUN-Glen Park neighborhood included the presence of storm water gates that times, improvements to pedestrian crossings, as a livable center. IUN-Glen Park, as defined are not designed for bicyclists, and curb cuts and the addition of sidewalks along the corridor by NIRPC, is bordered by a combination of 32nd that are unnecessarily wide. The assessment to improve accessibility and safety for all users. Avenue/33rd Avenue/35th Avenue/37th Avenue to also revealed that 35th Avenue appears to be Implementation of this plan is currently underway the north, Chase Street to the west, a combination wide enough with appropriate speeds to safely and incorporated into the planning process for of Ridge Road/Norfolk Southern/an abandoned accommodate bicycle lanes that would serve both UP-East. railroad to the south, and Mississippi Street/ the broader community as well as students. Interstate 65 to the east. According to the report, the population density was just over eight people per acre and the housing density was four units per acre. Vacancy rates to the west of Grant Street are 10-15%, and to the east are 15-25%. The report also identified IUN and Ivy Tech as the most significant employers and the two strongest assets in the neighborhood.

MARCH 2016 99 GARY PARKS & REC MASTER PLAN along the Calumet River, links between GARY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN parks, community gardens, and a new 2009-2013 2008-2028 The City of Gary Parks and Recreation Master community park at the vacant Franklin The Gary Comprehensive Plan 2008-2028 is a long- Plan, adopted in 2009, evaluated the physical Elementary school site term planning document intended for elected and condition and accessibility of existing parks and appointed officials, residents, community leaders, amenities, current park programming, current property and business owners, and developers as policies, department organization and budget, a guide for planning and development decisions as well as objectives and constraints. The plan over the next 20 years. The city’s comprehensive also provided benchmarking analysis; set realistic, plan is updated periodically to ensure that goals attainable goals and objectives that reflected are being met and objectives and strategies current department and city-wide issues; and continue to be relevant and realistic. provided a guide for park and recreation program development that reflected community interests across age groups, basic needs of the population, The Gary comprehensive planning process and essential funding issues. represents an important opportunity for the City to: Key recommendations for University Park include: • Establish short- and long-range • Strengthen residential neighborhoods development frameworks with renovated, infill, and new housing stock • Create development concepts for key sub- areas • Support the growth and interconnectivity of community anchors such as IUN, Ivy • Attract land-uses and development more Tech, and the Gary Area Career Center compatible with community goals and needs, infrastructure, environmental • Rehabilitate Broadway as a multi-purpose conditions, and character “Main Street” with distinct university, neighborhood retail, and city street • Improve the City’s land-use, physical sections conditions, and quality of life • Expand regional retail/service space at the • Integrate neighborhood plans into a highway interchanges with retail, grocery, larger community-wide vision and hotel uses • Preserve and enhance the community’s • Create a sense of arrival and identity historic character and structures • Enhance open space through trails • Maintain an efficient transportation system

100 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT GARY-EAST CHICAGO-HAMMOND Notably, the comprehensive plan projects the ECONOMIC FUTURE STUDY 2007 City’s population to decline marginally (-0.30%) The Gary-East Chicago-Hammond Economic from 99,670 in 2008 to 99,100 in 2012. In reality, the Future Study recommended that the cities of Gary, City’s population declined 20% over this time and East Chicago, and Hammond work together to reached 79,085 people in 2012. build upon local strengths and regional assets to catalyze economic growth in the region. The study Positive elements the report highlighted include: identified specific opportunities for economic large sections of University Park as having growth and presented five strategies to position attractive, well-maintained housing; as well as Ivy the region to attract economic investment. The Tech and IUN serving as strong anchors for the study also indicated that the region’s extensive University Park neighborhood that also provide infrastructure system and strong industrial base training and education for northwest Indiana are competitive assets that can be used to attract residents. economic growth.

The report also drew attention to the ample Two challenges identified by the Study include: vacant storefronts, deteriorated buildings, and empty lots in the City’s commercial districts; the • There is a lack of development-ready sites issues of deferred maintenance in residential and modern facilities that can meet the neighborhoods leading to dangerous and locational and physical requirements of deteriorating homes; and the excessive pavement, typical businesses within potential growth lack of landscaping, street trees, street furniture, sectors and landscaped edges between parking lots, • Many local residents are not workforce driveways, and sidewalks. The report also made ready, lack needed skills, and/or are not the connection that deteriorated physical attaining a level of education that will conditions, along with lack of maintenance and allow them to compete for future job recognizable, distinct gateways, contribute to a opportunities within the potential growth negative perception of the City and affect crime, sectors image, and overall quality of life. The five strategies outlined in the Study are:

• Develop modern real estate products, which meet the physical and locational requirements of businesses within potential growth sectors • Strengthen and build upon local steel and energy sectors

MARCH 2016 101 • Strengthen business support services GARY GREEN LINK MASTER PLAN and work collaboratively to implement a 2005 regional economic development strategy The Gary Green Link Master Plan was completed • Provide local residents with the education in February 2005 through a grant from the Indiana and skills needed to compete for future Department of Natural Resources, Lake Michigan job opportunities Coastal Program, and Great Lakes Coastal Restoration Grants Program. • Acquire and assemble parcels along the Route 912/Cline Avenue corridor south of The objective of the study was to establish a 30- I-90 to accommodate airport-related and mile long natural resources greenway around the other business development City connecting the Grand Calumet River, Little Calumet River, and the Lake Michigan shoreline. Project objectives included:

• Identify, protect, and restore globally significant natural resources • Identify, protect, and restore other locally significant natural resources, natural areas, and open spaces • Extend the green corridor that is already part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and other protected public lands • Provide recreational opportunity as a bicycle/pedestrian multi-use trail Specifically for the Little Calumet Trail that runs through UP-East, the plan recommended improved access from the trail to the neighborhood as well as capitalizing on educational opportunities for IUN, Ivy Tech, and the Gary Area Career Center. The landscape is identified as degraded bottomland woodland.

102 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 2040 COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL PLAN The 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan (CRP) was completed in 2015 by NIRPC, which serves as the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization for Northwest Indiana. This Plan covers the tri-county region of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. Unlike previous plans released by NIRPC, which focused primarily on transportation, the CRP now includes land use, human and economic resources, and environmental policy objectives to the mix.

The Plan’s primary principles include: (1) support urban reinvestment; (2) ensure environmental justice; (3) protect natural resources and minimize impacts to environmental features and watersheds; and (4) integrate transportation and land use.

The Plan indicated that the tri-county region is expected to grow by 170,000 people (13%) and add 80,000 new jobs (29%) by the year 2040 . Prime sectors identified for job growth include: (1) Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics; (2) Advanced Manufacturing; (3) IT and Technology; and (4) Professional and Medical Services. The Plan also places an emphasis on utilizing the region’s educational and institutional organizations for investments in job and capital programs to support the Plan’s visions.

MARCH 2016 103 104 APPENDIX: NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENT SURVEY

MARCH 2016 105 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY SUMMARY OF RESULTS

INTRODUCTION the neighborhood would get a lot or and diabetes identified as the top three somewhat better over the next five years. conditions. As part of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) Planning Process for the University Park • Nearly half of the non-resident • Dental services and eye care were the East (UP-East) neighborhood, the City of Gary respondents said they would be interested top two health services needed by administered a survey to gather information from in moving to UP-East if the neighborhood households. were improved. stakeholders who both live and do not live in the • Over 60% of the children ages 0-5 are neighborhood. The survey was made available • Ratings of public services overall are low, attending a childcare facility outside of the both on-line and administered in person by with only two services (fire department home. volunteers between June and October 2015.a and ambulance/EMS response) rated • Participation in youth programs by as very good/good by over half of the Respondents who live in the UP-East school-aged children is low, and the need neighborhood respondents. neighborhood were asked questions related for additional youth programs both in to their feelings about and perceptions of • The top two most needed improvements the neighborhood and in general were the neighborhood, their engagement in in UP-East identified by neighborhood identified by residents as a priority need. the community and social network, needed residents were addressing vacant/ neighborhood resources and services, quality of abandoned homes and businesses, and children’s education, health status and access, beautifying the neighborhood. RESPONDENT CHARACTERISTICS and service needs and utilization.b Respondents • The most desired types of businesses A total of 351 respondents took the survey, who live outside the neighborhood were asked in UP-East by both residents and non- including 185 (53%) neighborhood residents a more limited set of questions that focused on residents are clothing stores, grocery (“resident respondents”), for a 25% response recommended neighborhood improvements. stores, sit-down restaurants, and movie rate among neighborhood households.c Of the Key findings from the survey included: theatre/entertainment options. 166 survey respondents who do not live in the neighborhood (“non-resident respondents”), • Neighborhood residents are generally • Use of the emergency room for health optimistic about the future outlook for care services is extremely high, which indicates that residents lack a medical c Not all respondents fully completed the survey. 325 of the neighborhood. Over half thought the 351 respondents completed at least half of the questions. Surveys home. were only included in the analysis if at least half of the questions were a To encourage participation, survey respondents were answered. Of the 325, 178 surveys were completed by neighborhood entered into a drawing to receive one of five $50 gift cards as a thank • Three out of four households have a residents and counted toward the resident response rate. Assuming you. household member with a chronic medical the 2010 Census population count for the neighborhood of 740 households, this represents approximately 25% of University Park East b The universe of UP-East residents included the residents condition, with asthma, hypertension households. An additional 147 non-residents completed at least half of living in Colonial Gardens 1 and 2. Due to the small number of the questions. Completions are counted as of October 13, 2015. Colonial Gardens’ residents, their responses were combined with the neighborhood resident responses to protect their anonymity. This approach was approved by HUD. In total 12 out of 18 Colonial Gardens’ households completed the survey.

106 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT AGE DISTRIBUTION - ALL RESPONDENTS 15% work in the neighborhood, 26% attend school in the neighborhood, 28% shop in the neighborhood, 35% use service providers in the neighborhood, and 22% come to the neighborhood for other reasons. (Note: residents could select more than one affiliation). A majority (64%) of non-resident respondents lived elsewhere in the City of Gary. Overall, the demographic profile of survey respondents was diverse. Respondents spanned a range of ages, and households were almost Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 evenly split between homeowners (55%) and renters (45%). While household income varied, 1 in 4 earned less than $10,000 . A majority of respondents (65%) were female and most were African American (82%). The profile of INCOME DISTRIBUTION - ALL RESPONDENTS TENURE - RESIDENT RESPONDENTS resident respondents was fairly similar to that of residents of UP-East in general, though resident respondents were younger than the general neighborhood population.d

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 d Comparison of demographic profile data is based on American Community Survey 2009-13 5-year estimates.

MARCH 2016 107 NEIGHBORHOOD PERCEPTIONS Resident respondents cited affordability as the moved there. Households without children were Resident respondents are generally optimistic most common reason they moved to UP-East more likely to move to UP-East because of its low about the future outlook for the neighborhood: a (31%), followed by it being where they were born crime. majority (57%) thought the neighborhood would or grew up (26%). These are the same reasons why get a lot or somewhat better over the next 5 years. resident respondents continue to live in UP-East: Resident respondents most liked that UP-East has affordability (26%) or because family/friends live easy access to the expressway (42%). Homeowners there (20%). and longer-term residents also liked the churches and places of worship in UP-East and the proximity Reasons provided for moving to UP-East varied of the Gary Area Career Center. Homeowners by subpopulation. Renters, shorter-term residents also liked the shopping/retail options in UP- (less than 10 years), and households with children East. Shorter-term residents cited employment were more likely to cite affordability as the reason opportunities as one of the things they liked most they moved to UP-East. Longer-term residents about the neighborhood. Households without (10+ years) were more likely to report being born children liked having churches/places of worship, or growing up in UP-East as the reason they and the area’s access to public transportation.

WHY DID YOU MOVE TO THE UNIVERSITY PARK EAST NEIGHBORHOOD? (SELECT ONLY ONE)

All Resident Non- Resident Resident Homeowners Renters Families Respondents Families <10 years 10+ years

Affordable place to live 31% 21% 39% 36% 24% 40% 25%

I was born/grew up here 26% 28% 27% 23% 11% 16% 34%

Safe place to live/low crime 12% 19% 8% 6% 29% 7% 17%

Convenient location 12% 16% 8% 14% 18% 17% 7%

To be near family or friends 12% 7% 11% 14% 7% 13% 9%

Other (please specify) 6% 9% 4% 5% 1% 7% 5%

Not Sure 2% 0% 4% 3% 9% 1% 2%

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

108 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY PARK EAST NEIGHBORHOOD? (SELECT MULTIPLE)

Resident All Resident Home Non- Resident Renters Families 10+ Respondents Owners Families <10 years years Access to the expressway (i-65, I-80/94) 42% 48% 38% 43% 40% 49% 42%

Close to family/friends 31% 31% 33% 33% 28% 26% 35%

Located near IUN and Ivy Tech 28% 26% 24% 27% 29% 27% 31%

Churches/Places of worship 28% 37% 24% 26% 47% 17% 34%

Is an affordable place to live 27% 27% 11% 18% 27% 23% 27%

Access to the Village Shopping Center 24% 28% 20% 22% 24% 22% 25%

Access to public transportation 23% 24% 19% 17% 29% 23% 21%

Located near the Gary Area Career Center 18% 30% 12% 16% 20% 12% 24%

Access to South Gleason Park 17% 19% 11% 16% 17% 13% 19%

Employment opportunities 16% 21% 12% 16% 15% 23% 11%

Is a safe place to live 13% 18% 12% 15% 13% 9% 14%

Access to entertainment options 12% 13% 13% 12% 12% 13% 8%

Shopping/retail store options 12% 22% 5% 10% 12% 12% 13%

Availability of child care 12% 10% 12% 11% 11% 14% 10%

Access to social services (i.e. Urban League, 11% 9% 9% 9% 13% 7% 11% WIC office)

Other (specify) 3% 1% 2% 4% 2% 4% 3%

Nothing 4% 1% 4% 3% 4% 1% 3%

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

MARCH 2016 109 WHAT IMPROVEMENTS DO YOU THINK ARE MOST NEEDED IN THE UNIVERSITY PARK EAST NEIGHBORHOOD? (SELECT MULTIPLE)

Resident Resident All Resident Home Non- Renters Families <10 10+ Respondents Owners Families years years Address vacant/abandoned homes and businesses 57% 52% 56% 56% 56% 48% 66% Beautify the neighborhood 44% 39% 51% 48% 39% 40% 46% Better schools 39% 40% 41% 45% 31% 40% 41% Better street lighting 38% 36% 38% 31% 40% 29% 43% Better streets and sidewalks 36% 37% 33% 30% 38% 29% 40% Less crime/violence in people’s homes 30% 31% 30% 26% 33% 21% 37% Less crime/violence on the streets 30% 33% 29% 20% 36% 17% 41% More youth programs 29% 36% 23% 34% 24% 23% 37% Better/more neighborhood amenities (e.g. post office, library, bank) 28% 31% 28% 29% 25% 27% 32% Add a community garden 24% 24% 26% 20% 24% 27% 20% More parks/recreational facilities 22% 25% 20% 23% 20% 18% 27% More shopping/retail store options 16% 16% 16% 20% 13% 14% 23% Better transportation options 16% 16% 6% 11% 20% 17% 14% More entertainment options 15% 21% 13% 13% 15% 20% 15% More childcare options 15% 22% 12% 15% 14% 17% 16% More social services 10% 15% 5% 7% 11% 10% 11% Other (specify) 3% 3% 3% 6% 2% 4% 2% None 2% 1% 2% 1% 2% 0% 1%

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

110 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT NON-RESIDENTS NON-RESIDENTS: INTEREST IN NON-RESIDENTS: INTEREST IN MOVING TO UP-EAST? MOVING TO UP-EAST IF IMPROVED? Most non-resident respondents (68%) indicated they are not looking to move to the neighborhood, and 28% said they are not sure. However, about half (49%) indicated they would be interested in moving to the neighborhood if it were improved. Students could possibly be a future market for UP-East with almost half noting that they were not sure whether they were currently looking to move to UP-East. The most cited improvements that would make non-resident respondents more likely to move to the neighborhood include: more retail/shopping options (50%), improved safety (50%), more Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 amenities (e.g., parks or recreational areas) (49%), and better maintenance (e.g., lawns cut, no trash or debris) (47%). The responses to this question also varied by neighborhood affiliation: those STUDENTS AND FACULTY: ARE YOU LOOKING TO MOVE TO UP-EAST? who worked in the neighborhood sought quality homeownership options and neighborhood safety, while students sought more student housing.

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

MARCH 2016 111 WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU MORE LIKELY TO MOVE TO UNIVERSITY PARK EAST?

All Non- Go to Work in the resident School in the Neighborhood Respondents Neighborhood

If the neighborhood were safer 50% 64% 43% If there were more retail/shopping options 50% 55% 41%

If there were more amenities like parks or 49% 45% 35% recreational areas

If the neighborhood were better maintained (i.e. 47% 59% 46% lawns cut, no trash or debris)

If there were more entertainment/cultural options 40% 41% 38% (e.g. museums, plays, movies, restaurants, etc.)

If there were more quality rental housing options 33% 27% 27% (apartments, single-family homes) If there were more quality homeownership options 31% 41% 19% If there were more services (e.g. health care) 26% 18% 24%

If there were a good school that my children could 23% 27% 14% attend If there were better public transportation options 20% 0% 24% If there were student housing 18% 18% 35% Nothing, I would never move to University Park East 16% 5% 8% Not sure 13% 14% 19% Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

112 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT BUSINESSES MOST COMMON TYPES OF BUSINESSES RESPONDENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF IN UP-EAST Among all respondents to the survey (i.e., both residents and non-residents), when asked the types of businesses they would like to see more of in UP-East, the six most common responses were: clothing stores, grocery stores, sit-down restaurants, movie theater/other entertainment/ cultural options, coffee shops, and a gym/ fitness center. Preferences for businesses varied somewhat by subgroup, as demonstrated in the chart to the right. Resident respondents shop at a number of different grocery stores both within and outside of Gary. The greatest percentage of responders (29%) reported grocery shopping at Aldi located 1.5 miles away at 3311 Grant St.

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

MARCH 2016 113 RESIDENT PERCEPTION OF SAFETY

SAFETY More than half of resident respondents feel very or somewhat safe in the neighborhood at varying times and places, but are more likely to feel safer during the day than at night. Renters were less likely than homeowners to feel very or somewhat safe in the neighborhood at night (57% vs.68%, respectively).

NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES Resident respondents’ ratings of public services in UP-East were relatively low, with fewer than half rating most public services as very good or good. Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 The highest ratings were given to ambulance/ EMS response and fire department response. Homeowners generally rated neighborhood services more highly than renters, in particular RESIDENT RATING OF PUBLIC SERVICES snow removal (38% very good or good vs. 17%); trash, recycling, and yard waste collection (58% vs. 35%); and utilities (53% vs. 29%).

TRANSPORTATION The majority of resident respondents use their own car/truck/vehicle as their primary mode of transportation (66%); only 11% identified public transportation as their primary mode.

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

114 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT CHILD CARE FOR RESIDENT CHILDREN AGES 0-5

CHILDREN More than one in five (22%) of resident respondents have children five years of age or younger. Among these children, 61% are in center- based care (i.e., Early Head Start/Head Start, preschool, or another type of child care center). The remaining are cared for in a home by a parent, family/friend, or nanny/babysitter. About 39% of the resident respondents have school-aged children in the household. Only about half (51%) of these children attend public schools operated by GCSC, 18% attend a charter school, 14% attend a public school outside of Gary, and the remaining attend a private/faith-based or Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 other type of school.

More than half of parents (55%) living in UP-East SCHOOL ATTENDANCE - RESIDENT CHILDREN rated their child’s/children’s school(s) as excellent or good, 30% rated it as average, and 15% as below average or poor. Satisfaction with schools varied by type of school with the highest ratings (excellent or good) given to private/faith-based schools (83%) and charter schools (71%), and the lowest ratings for GCSC schools (51%). Children of homeowners were more likely than children of renters to attend a charter school (32% vs. 13%) and less likely to attend a GCSC public school (26% vs. 62%). They also tended to rate their schools more highly (excellent or good) than did renters (80% vs. 53%).

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

MARCH 2016 115 PARTICIPATION IN YOUTH PROGRAMS - RESIDENT CHILDREN Of the school-aged children, 59% are enrolled in at least one type of youth program, most commonly college preparation programs (25%), sports/ recreation programs (21%), tutoring programs (18%), and arts/music programs (18%). Students of homeowners are more likely to be enrolled in a youth program compared to students of renters (73% vs. 55%), especially college preparation (40% vs. 23%) and tutoring (33% vs. 16%).

HEALTH About two-thirds (67%) of resident respondents rated their health as excellent or good; 63% rated the health of other adult household members as excellent or good; and 74% rated their children’s health as excellent or good. Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 Only 26% of resident respondents indicated that no one in their household had any chronic medical conditions. The most common chronic conditions RESIDENT SELF-RATED HEALTH reported were: asthma (29%), hypertension/high blood pressure (26%), and diabetes (21%). Renter households living in UP-East are more than twice as likely as homeowners to suffer from asthma (43% vs. 21%). Families were three times more likely than non-families to have a member with asthma (48% vs. 14%), but were less likely to have a member with hypertension/blood pressure (23% vs. 34%). Nearly 40% of resident respondents indicated that they go to a hospital for health care services (Methodist Hospital-Northlake – 26% and Methodist Hospital-Southlake – 14%), followed

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

116 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT RESIDENTS’ MEDICAL HOME

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

MARCH 2016 117 SELF-REPORTED HEALTH CONDITIONS by another primary care doctor (17%). The high rate of usage of the Methodist Hospital campuses by neighborhood residents indicates that many households do not have a medical home and visit the emergency room when they are sick versus a primary care doctor. The most common unmet health needs among resident respondents include: dental services (32%) and eye care (31%). Slightly over a quarter of neighborhood respondents (26%) indicated they have no unmet health needs. Almost one in five residents (17%) indicated that primary health care was an immediate health need, reinforcing the data above that many residents are going to hospitals for basic health services. Families are more likely than non-family households to need eye care (39% vs. 25%) and less likely to have Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 no unmet health needs (21% vs. 32%). Renters were more likely to need dental services (35% RESIDENTS’ MOST COMMON UNMET HEALTH NEEDS vs. 25%) and primary health care (22% vs. 10%); homeowners were more likely to need physical fitness/exercise programs (19% vs. 8%).

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

118 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT RESIDENTS’ REASONS FOR NOT ACCESSING NEEDED SERVICES

SERVICE NEEDS AND UTILIZATION The most common non-health services for which resident respondents reported an immediate need were: youth programs (21%), computer training (20%), emergency food bank (19%), and small business training (15%). About a fifth (21%) responded that they do not need any services at this time. When asked why residents do not access the services they need, the most frequent response was not knowing about the services available (27%). A quarter of resident respondents reported having no trouble accessing the service they need, and a fifth were not sure.

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

MARCH 2016 119 RESIDENT EMPLOYMENT STATUS

EMPLOYMENT Just over half (53%) of resident respondents are currently working full or part time. More than a third (37%) are not currently in the labor force – i.e., retired, disabled, in school full-time, or not currently looking for work for other reasons. The remaining 12% are not working but currently looking for work. Among those in the labor force, the unemployment rate is 18%. Among resident respondents who are in the workforce and/or looking for work, the most common challenges to finding and keeping work include disability/health restrictions (16%), Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 affordable child care/day care (15%), and caring for a family member who is sick or disabled (14%). More than a third (34%) of resident respondents reported having no trouble finding or keeping a BARRIERS TO FINDING OR KEEPING A JOB job.

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

120 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT RESIDENT PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR SOCIAL NETWORK/COMMUNITY

SOCIAL NETWORK/COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Overall, resident respondents expressed satisfaction with the sense of community and social network in the UP-East neighborhood. More than half of residents strongly agree or agree with the measures of community engagement listed. Respondents, both resident and non-resident, use word of mouth (42% vs. 57%) and the Gary Post Tribune (41% vs. 54%) as the most common sources of information about either the neighborhood or the City of Gary. Non-residents Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015 are more likely to use almost all sources of information, especially newspapers (i.e., the Gary SOURCES OF INFORMATION Post Tribune and the Times of Northwest Indiana) and the Internet or Facebook.

Source: Neighborhood Resident Survey, 2015

MARCH 2016 121 122 APPENDIX: STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS

MARCH 2016 123 STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS: SUMMARY OF KEY THEMES

Stakeholder interviews were conducted between • Available undeveloped land; no perspective, very bad mosquitoes as a June and October of 2015. conscientious effort to date to consolidate result of all the water/wetlands and plan, so this process affords a unique • Public Safety: east side of Glen Park opportunity STRENGTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES perceived as one of the worst areas of the • People are Gary’s greatest assets, strong City with high rates of gang activity; level • Proximity to Ivy Tech and IUN; potential sense of community of violence is high even though it appears for university/community collaboration; better than it used to be; violence against opportunity to develop UP-East into an • Affordability women is a particular issue; driven by “education corner” where education • Retail along 35th Avenue and Broadway inability of municipal organizations as well and the educational institutions give the as failure to adequately address mental neighborhood its character, for example • Amenities and programs that were illness and drug addiction Hyde Park in Chicago or Evanston highlighted included Kennedy Library, where you feel like you are “breathing in Project Rebuild at the Truancy Court, • Poor quality of schools; critical need smartness”; local jobs on Ivy Tech/IUN Early education, opportunity to utilize to find an alternative to failing schools; development project which were viewed abandoned township office as a improving the educational system is key; as critical for building trust; opportunity to community center for youth and seniors, will never attract a middle class unless you capitalize on student population to attract IUN’s annual neighborhood clean-up improve GCSC; lack of functional literacy new business event, nearby Golf course and driving among 16+ year olds; vacant Benjamin range, and Areas where things have been Franklin school building • Good access to 80/94 expressways; need allowed to grow wild, particularly along to give people a reason to get off the • No after-school programs; lack of the bike trail freeway and spend money resources for kids; need for Community • Gary needs a really positive public Center which offers multiple services; the • Access to Gary Area Career Center engagement committee – identify what city is dying not just because of crime • Public safety image is worse than reality; is happening in pockets and putting on but also because of the lack of programs Gary campus is the safest in the IUN spotlight the good things going on and services for youth; youth need to get system; presence of both County and beyond Gary boundaries; Gary is very IUN police; used to have a community isolated, both self-imposed and externally oriented police station at the former WEAKNESSES AND THREATS imposed location of Deena’s bar; highly visible • Vacant and abandoned property; • Lack of neighborhood serving retail police substation near IUN might make more demolition needed; Blight and and businesses; no lunch places or sense abandonment affects morale; need to neighborhood amenities to manage daily • Grand gestures are not necessarily keep it moving to stay positive needs; the City is not business friendly- needed; small investments like a walking too many rules and ordinances which are • Flooding is an issue and needs to trail would be an appreciated amenity counterproductive be addressed from an infrastructure

124 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT • Maintenance and upkeep is a critical • Need for culture change, not just KEY STAKEHOLDERS INTERVIEWED piece of the success of any neighborhood infrastructure improvements; very young revitalization; it is demoralizing if parents that need access to parking skills/ Councilman Kyle Allen Sr. – President, Gary neighborhood is not maintained properly; education themselves; Concern about Common Council massive clean-up and beautification family structure; kids are not getting what Dr. Vanessa Allen – Executive Director, Urban effort is needed; subscribes to the broken they need from families; institutions are League of Northwest Indiana window theory that if we care enough to not supporting families; mentoring needs Councilwoman Linda Barnes Caldwell –District 5, fix things, they will flourish but if we leave to include the whole family; wrap around Gary Common Council them broken they will attract negative and multi-generational programming and Jena Bellezza – Vice President of Community activity; more positivity needed services are key; Do not give things away, Outreach and Marketing, Indiana Parenting people do not value things they have not Institute • Lack of parks and venues where kids can invested in, they need to have skin in the Bishop Michael Butler – King’s Highway Church play safely and get fresh air game International • Lack of walkability and bikability; people Doris Carbins – Executive Director, Gary Human • Seniors – lived here for a long time and walk in the streets and wheelchairs are Relations Commission now need accessible units – have nothing in the middle of the road rather than on Dr. Karen Carradine – Vice President Head Start, available for them – and no money to the sidewalk because overgrown and in Geminus Corporation make modifications to their home disrepair; lack of street lighting; roads Lieutenant Jennifer Clanton – The Salvation Army are poorly maintained; infrastructure • Transient renters; some long term Gary-Merrillville Corps improvements needed to address homeownership but high churn rate Denise Dillard – Chief Consultant for flooding; among renters Governmental and External Affairs, Methodist Hospitals • Lack of entertainment venues and/or • Lack of effective leadership; churches are Jennifer Dyer - Executive Director, Catholic places to go to socialize with neighbors, important but need more diverse ways Charities Diocese of Gary need places for young adults to go (15-23) to build the capacity of leaders in the Jack Eskin – Deputy Director of Redevelopment, and engage in safe entertainment community; need to get talent where you Planning and Redevelopment Department, can get it • Lack of health providers; East Glen Park City of Gary is medically underserved; no dentists • Racism; low morale; lack of hope; fear to Mary Felton – University Park East resident and or behavioral health providers in 46409 do anything; lack of empowerment District 6 Precinct 20 Committee-person, City zip code; high rates of chronic disease of Gary including diabetes, heart disease, asthma; Jerome Flagg – Executive Director, Gary lack of grocery with fresh meats, fruits and Neighborhood Services vegetables Anne Flannery – President/CEO – Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana • Lack of centralized place to get La’Kisha Girder – Director, Department of information about services; lack of local Planning, City of Gary community organizations

MARCH 2016 125 Sharon Harvey – Public Affairs Specialist, Indiana Dr. Marlon Mitchell – President, Ivy Tech Dr. Ronald Walker – Commissioner, Gary Health District Office, Region V – Great Lakes, U.S. Community College – Gary Campus Department Small Business Administration Dr. Alexis Montevirgen – Vice Chancellor for Angie Williams – Director, Community Impact, Shirley Hawkins –Director, Gary Health Department Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Lake Area United Way Pastor George Howard, Sr. – Rhema Inspirational Indiana University Northwest David Wright – Director of Planning and Church Bennie Muhammad – Executive Director, Gary Marketing, Gary Public Transportation Charles Hughes – Executive Director, Gary Commission on the Social Status of Black Corporation Chamber of Commerce Males Rachael Wright – Vice President of Operations, Yvette Irons-Johnson – Assistant Vice President & Alicia Nunn – Executive Director, ARISE Gary Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana Bank Manager, First Midwest Bank and Board Gary Olund – President/CEO, Northwest Indiana President, Glen Park Community Development Community Action Corporation Corporation Arleen Peterson – Executive Director, Foodbank of Caron Jones – Executive Director, YWCA of Northwest Indiana Northwest Indiana Dr. Cheryl Pruitt – Superintendent, Gary LaShawn Jones-Taylor - Emergency Services Community Schools Corporation Program Manager, Catholic Charities Diocese Commander Kerry Rice – Community Services of Gary Division, Gary Police Department Dan Klein – Executive Director, Habitat for Mary Fran Riley – Senior Vice President, External Humanity of Northwest Indiana Affairs, Accion Chicago Lori Peterson Latham – Superintendent, Brenda Scott-Henry – Director, Department of Department of Public Parks, City of Gary Environmental and Green Urbanism Affairs, Mary Lee – University Park-East Resident and City of Gary Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Student Dr. Janet Seabrook – Executive Director, Affairs and Enrollment Management, Indiana Community HealthNet Inc. University Northwest Steven Strains – Deputy Director/Director of Vernita Leslie – Executive Director, Broadway Area Planning, Northwestern Indiana Regional Community Development Corporation Planning Commission Richard Leverett – Director of External Affairs for Canica Strong – Workforce Development Services, Northern Indiana, AT&T Inc. Dr. Sharron Liggins – Executive Director, Dr. Ellen Szarleta – Director, Center for Urban Continuum of Care Network of Northwest and Regional Excellence, Indiana University Indiana Northwest Steven Marcus – Building Commissioner, City Era Twyman – Executive Director, The Gary of Gary and President, Urban League of Literacy Coalition Northwest Indiana - Young Professionals Joe Van Dyk – Director, Planning and Sergio Mendoz – City Planner, City of Hobart Redevelopment Department, City of Gary

126 UNIVERSITY PARK EAST EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT MARCH 2016 127