Historic Gary building sold; preservation to continue
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Indiana Landmarks said Thursday it has sold a historic building in Gary that will continue to be rehabilitated. The Gary East Side Community Development Corp. acquired the Geter Means House, which appeared on the 10 Most Endangered list in 2022.
The mid-century ranch house was home to Gary entrepreneur Geter Means and his wife, Virginia. Means, along with his brother Andrew, launched a home-building business in the 1920s that would become one of the largest Black-owned real estate companies in the Midwest by the 1950s, according to Indiana landmarks.
Their primary development was Means Manor, a combination of bungalows, ranches and other houses that Indiana Landmarks said became the preferred neighborhood for Gary’s Black middle class.
The Geter Means House was built within Means Manor in 1954. When it was added to the Most Endangered list, the house had deteriorated behind overgrown vegetation.
Indiana Landmarks said it invested $100,000 to buy the house, clean it out, make grounds improvements and add a new roof. The Gary East Side Community Development Corp. plans to continue renovations on the inside of the house following its acquisition.
“Being selected to finish the restoration work begun by Indiana Landmarks is crucial for the Gary East Side Community Development Corp. as it validates our efforts in restoring the Geter Means house,” Executive Director Marlon Mitchell said in a news release. “This recognition not only acknowledges our hard work but also fuels our commitment to serving as a catalyst in transforming historic properties and contributing positively to the Midtown community’s development.”
The organization will also work to determine a use for the house that “honors the property’s significant heritage” once the rehabilitation effort is completed.