Gary Supporting Bill to Boost Blight Elimination

Zent says streamlining the purchase process will make communities safer and expand their tax base.

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The city of Gary is sponsoring a bill currently moving through the Indiana General Assembly aimed at boosting blight elimination efforts. House Bill 1318 would allow the city to establish a construction/demolition site to eliminate transport and disposal fees.

The city says the site would be able to receive common deconstruction and demolition debris, including bricks and wood from its demolition projects. The site would be regulated by state and county authorities and would not accept garbage, rubbish or hazardous materials, as outlined by state law.

The site would also be marketed to other communities that would pay a fee to use it. The city says the site would create an additional revenue stream that could help supplement a "challenged" budget, in addition to helping reach its goal of removing more than 6,800 blighted structures.

House Bill 1318 is currently being heard by the House Environmental Affairs Committee, though a time frame for a vote has not been outlined. You can learn more about the bill by clicking here.