Blight to Light: Gary, IN | Video Documentary

In this video documentary, you’ll see that Gary enjoyed a healthy, booming economy with approximately 180,000 residents by the 1960s. However, when the steel industry collapsed and workers lost their jobs, many fled the city and abandoned their homes. Gary’s population has decreased by roughly 100,000 people over the past 40 to 50 years, leaving a devastated city, wracked by blighted and abandoned structures. But its government and citizens are working hard to reclaim the city’s vibrancy.

Through the BEP program, the city has demolished hundreds of properties, which is significantly more than the city was able to do before the program. In addition to demolition, they have been able to institute a Green Infrastructure Initiative to manage storm water runoff through installing native, thirsty plant gardens on formerly blighted properties. Also, they have begun work deconstructing blighted houses that have salvageable materials for resale and reuse.

It is not just the government that is getting involved. Citizens are donating their time and money to improve the quality of life in Gary. Local residents are mowing entire city blocks that are abandoned, launching urban farms and beautifying vacant lots.

This video, “Blight to Light”, filmed and produced by Good Aim Communications, provides an overview of Gary’s story, with a focus on the Blight Elimination Program efforts in Gary.