Breaking ground for residential development in Merrillville | Local News

Speaking at Thursday’s groundbreaking of the 180-acre Liberty Estates project, McColly, the chairman of McColly Real Estate, cited two reasons for optimism.

“Liberty Estates has a bright future,” McColly said, citing its proximity to I-65, US 30 and several medical campuses. “The timing is really good.”

Among McColly’s reasons for optimism is Merrillville’s central location in the United States, between Canada and Mexico, two major trading partners. This business growth, he said, creates jobs that lead to the purchase of a home.

The second reason McColly cites is the growth in the number of people working from home. With Cook County in Illinois being one of the most populous counties in the country, he said, people could consider moving to Indiana with its lower taxes while staying away from many attractions. from Chicago.

“We are bringing a lot of people to work from home. We’re seeing people moving from other parts of the country,” McColly said. “I see a very bright future.”

Traci Van Gundy, McColly’s lead agent on the project, said Liberty Estates’ progress, including city approval and zoning, has been underway for a year.

While McColly’s agents will sell one of 1,000 units out of more than 100 lots, Luxor Homes will handle the construction. Already with projects in Hobart, Crown Point, Valparaiso and Merrillville, Luxor has also developed Heritage North, the subdivision bordering Liberty Estates to the east.

The new subdivision is bordered on the west by Whitcomb Street, on the north by US 30, and 84th Place on the south.

Randy Hall, owner of Luxor, highlighted the city’s cooperation on this latest project, praising Merrillville officials as “open communicators.”

Hall explained that Liberty Estates would feature a variety of home styles, including single and multi-family dwellings, retirement homes, patio homes, and two-family homes. Future plans, Hall said, include retail and office space.

Home prices will start in the $400,000s, according to Van Gundy.

Based in Merrillville, Luxor provides housing construction, development and leasing services in Northwest Indiana. Hall expects Liberty Estates’ first home to be ready next spring.

City Council Speaker Rick Bella, D-Ward 3, said, “A lot of work has gone into this project.

This project is in the Bella neighborhood, and the council member said that property values ​​will increase as a result of this subdivision.

“It’s a partnership,” added Bella, highlighting the cooperation between the city and Luxor.

That work, Bella said, has included security issues. A safety study is underway, Bella said, and the city is accepting bids for related engineering work.

Possible solutions to ensure safety, Bella said, include installing a rounded curve or roundabout at 91st Avenue and Whitcomb.

From an economic development perspective, Liberty Estates represents a potential $200 million investment for the city, said Matt Reardon, owner of MCR Partners, which is working with Luxor on the real estate project.

“The city has a plan and executed that plan,” Reardon said.

Hall added that a percentage of home sales would be donated to several charities in the area, some of which served other people with disabilities. These include St. Jude House, Opportunity Enterprises, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, Center for Possibilities – Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Indiana.

Representatives of each of these agencies took the floor before the inauguration of the works.

Ryan Elinkowski, executive director of St. Jude House, a Crown Point-based shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, thanked project developers for helping nonprofits.

“You may not see the impact,” Elinkowski said, “but it’s real.”