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University Park East

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We are UP East...

University Park East is our community. It is where our family, our friends, and we live. It is where our children will grow up, where we go to school, and where we attend church.

We deserve quality, affordable housing, conveniently located services like pharmacies, dry-cleaners, and restaurants, and improved public services that enhance walkability and access to public transportation.

map of University Park East - Gary, IN
University Park residents contribute their voices at Community Meeting

...and UP East needs you

The revitalization of our neighborhood can only be successful with your involvement. Your voices are our action steps in the transformation of UP East and every improvement, whether big or small, is a critical step toward our shared vision for the community. Help us develop our Blueprint for Change.

“No plan can move forward without input from you.”

Bo Kemp, Gary Economic Development Corporation Director and member of the University Park East Choice Neighborhoods Planning Team

Attention Investors

University Park East is an Opportunity Zone

An Opportunity Zone is an economically distressed community where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment. Opportunity Zones are designed to spur economic development by providing tax benefits to investors. A number of projects planned for the University Park East neighborhood offer immediate investment opportunities. For more information, contact Joseph Van Dyk at the Gary Redevelopment Commission, 219-886-1531 or Kelly Anoe at the Legacy Foundation, 219-736-1880.

Why UP East needs you

The Blueprint for Change is supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhoods program and a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant, in addition to the leadership of the City of Gary, the Legacy Foundation, and the Gary Economic Development Corporation. The Blueprint will be the guiding document for UP East’s revitalization and we must develop it together. We will create our neighborhood’s Blueprint and define the success of the program.

The potential for University Park East to receive a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant exists. While not guaranteed, neighborhoods that have successfully completed a planning process that brings together residents, business owners, stakeholders, nonprofits, private developers, and local leaders are more likely to receive an Implementation Grant.

The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Team (CNI Team) has been working hard to ensure you have a platform to engage in the revitalization of UP East. Take a minute to change your community. Contact us!

Milestones

January 2015

University Park East receives grant

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded University Park East a Choice Neighborhoods planning grant to develop a neighborhood Blueprint for Change.

September 2015

Community survey

More than 300 surveys completed by residents and non-residents

October 26th, 2015

Community meeting

More than 110 residents turned out to provide feedback and ideas about transforming the neighborhood.

December 2015

Working groups began

Designed to develop goals and strategies needed to transform the community, working groups are a driving force in the planning process.

January 2016

Blueprint for Change Outline

An outline of the Blueprint for Change was submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

February 2016

Community conversations began

Designed to give residents the opportunity to provide feedback and be a part of the discussion.

February 29th, 2016

Community meeting

Residents discussed new housing preferences.

April 14, 2016

Community meeting

Residents discussed economic development strategies based on insights.

June 30, 2016

Community meeting

More than 60 UP East residents came out. Many voiced their desire to see our neighborhood cleaned up and proposed improvements to street lighting and sidewalks, as well as increased policing to help combat crime.

July 15, 2016

Draft of Blueprint for Change submitted to HUD

Completed.

January 2017

Final Blueprint for Change submitted January 17, 2017

Working Groups

Our working groups—Economic Development Commercial Corridors, Resident Engagement and Leadership Development, Family Well-Being, Housing, Neighborhood Services and Amenities, Public Safety, Workforce Development and Adult Education, and Youth Development & Education—worked hard to help create the Blueprint for Change Draft Plan. We would like to thank all working group members for their time and dedication thus far.

On July 15th, we submitted the draft to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). While we await feedback, the Engagement and Leadership Development working group will remain active. All other working groups will reconvene upon receipt of feedback from HUD.

Resident engagement is imperative as we finalize the Blueprint for Change and transition into the implementation phase. We ask residents interested in participating in the process to join the Engagement and Leadership Development working group or one of the following Block Clubs:

Current UP East Block Clubs


To join the Engagement Leadership Development working group, contact Rachelle Morgan Ceaser, UP East Project Manager, at upeastprojectmanager@gmail.com or 219.793.3606.

Get Involved

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Facebook

Stay up-to-date with the University Park East Facebook page.

Community Meetings

Each community meeting will provide insight into the planning process.

Community Conversations

If you are unable to participate in a working group, we invite you to attend a community conversation. During each community conversation, you will have the opportunity to provide the working groups with feedback.

Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Small Grants provided by The Legacy Foundation


These small grants are intended to support the development of comprehensive revitalization plans which focus on three core areas: housing, people, and neighborhoods. Successful plans require extensive input and participation from the community. Residents need to be empowered to work for change in their communities and learn how to organize themselves while taking on leadership roles. The CNI team is looking to fund non-profit organizations to bring out the best in the community and create a sense of community ownership. The goals of the projects are:

  • To have an immediate impact on the quality of life in the targeted area.
  • To engage a diverse representation of residents (youths, adults, elderly, disabled) from the targeted area.
  • To build collaboration among organizations and businesses in the targeted area.
  • To identify and build local leadership and capacity among residents.
  • To contribute to the overall CNI Plan for University Park East.

Small Grant Recipients

Urban League

Community Block Clubs: The Urban League will begin identifying, advertising, and mobilizing Block Clubs in University Park East. Five block clubs will be mobilized/formed to help neighbors become better involved and engaged in their community.

Neighborhoods Inc

Window Sign Contest: Neighborhoods Inc will coordinate a Window Sign Contest in University Park East where residents will enter a contest to get as many neighbors as they can to place a Choice Neighborhood/Neighborhood Watch sign in their front window. Prizes will be awarded for the residents who get their neighbors to put up the most signs.

Ivy Tech Minority Male Initiative

Earth Day 2016 Clean Up and Celebration: The Minority Male Initiative convened on Earth Day to lead a University Park East clean up along the 35th corridor from Broadway to King Drive. The day will end with a celebration that will have entertainment, food, and information booths/resources.

ARISE

IMAGINE UP East: Youth and seniors (ages 70 to 92) were encouraged to participate in a filmed oral history project. Participants were asked to reflect on the history of the neighborhood and re-imagine its future. Two open mic performances, titled "Gary Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow", were held at New Tech High School, located at the Gary Area Career Center.

Reports & Plans

Choice Neighborhoods Planning Reports

These reports were completed during the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Initiative.

UP East Blueprint for Change (HUD Submission)

UP East Blueprint for Change (HUD Submission)

The Blueprint for Change includes strategies and action steps that will result in sustainable and meaningful investments in UP-East to help it become a vibrant and thriving community.

Existing Conditions Assessment

The Existing Conditions Assessment is intended to provide a baseline understanding of the current physical and social conditions in UP East. The analysis will inform the development of the Blueprint for Change.

Blueprint for Change Outline

The Blueprint for Change Outline was delivered to HUD in January 2016.

Neighborhood and Campus Plan for University Park, Gary

Neighborhood and Campus Plan for University Park, Gary

This document was produced by the City of Gary Department of Commerce in collaboration with The Community Builders, Inc. and with input from University Park stakeholders including Indiana University Northwest, Ivy Tech Community College, Gary Community School Corp, the Gary Housing Authority, and many others.

Neighborhood and Campus Plan for University Park, Gary

Livable Broadway

Gary Public Transportation Corporation commissioned the Livable Broadway Regional Plan to assess opportunities for improving bus service within Gary, Merrillville, and Crown Point while enhancing economic development, environment and land use and promoting livability within the corridor. The LBRP is now a guiding document for how the Broadway corridor can and should holistically develop.

Contact & News

What's UP Community Newsletter


UP East in the News

Have a question, comment, or concern? We'd love to hear from you!

For general inquiries

Rachelle Morgan Ceaser, UP East Project Manager

upeastprojectmanager@gmail.com

219.793.3606

For business inquiries

Karla Henderson, Commerce Director

khenderson@ci.gary.in.us

219.886.1531


Have ideas?

Contact the UP East Project Manager, Rachelle Morgan Ceaser

upeastprojectmanager@gmail.com

219.793.3606

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