The Munster side of the Kenmara Technology Park is fully approved and ready for marketing.
Formerly the Indiana portion of the Lansing Country Club, the 59 acres in Munster didn't have public access. This obstacle made the site difficult to develop.
The Lansing Country Club and the Sportsman's Club operated for 80 years at the site until closing in 2020. The site includes a total of 150 acres in Lansing, Illinois, and Munster. That same year Saxon Partners acquired the site. The developers worked with the Town of Munster and NIPSCO to extend Fisher Street and reconfigure Timrick Drive and Evergreen Park to create access in Munster.
Further infrastructure improvements included a Fisher Street-level rail crossing at the new Monon Corridor rail extension. Roadway and pedestrian underpasses also were added to the elevated part of the rail line next to the Kenmara site. The improvements were completed in the 2025, and zoning requests were filed with the town last fall. A Planned Unit Development or PUD zoming also was adopted in 2025.
That development allows Saxon to start marketing the project with a new website that explains the property's history and site information.
“The focus remains on identifying the highest and best use for the property — one that creates positive economic impact for the Town of Munster while thoughtfully considering community priorities,” said Gary Warfel, development director for Saxon Partners. “We are continuing to pursue a variety of technology and innovation opportunities.”
In early June, Saxon partners issued a clarification on an amendment to the site's zoning request. Saxon reinforced that they do not plan to build a data center there, because the site is too small. But they wanted to add language that addresses technology uses on the site in case a company proposes it.
“We know that data centers have become a topic of significant public interest,” Warfel said. “As a responsible community partner, we agree that any company proposing that type of use in Munster should be subject to enhanced review and meaningful opportunities for public input.”
Saxon received a $1.4 million 2023 Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant for the redevelopment of the Indiana side of Kenmara. The total cost of the redevelopment was projected at $163.2 million at the time. The Northwest Indiana Forum reported that the project would include 720,000 square feet of commercial space for healthcare and business commerce, and exceed $200 million in value once completed. The site can accommodate about 2,700 employees if fully used.
Saxon Partners, a real estate investment and development firm, has headquarters in Hingham, Massachusetts.
