The City of Hammond Common Council approved a resolution opposing the selection of a location for a proposed Lake County Convention Center.
Councilman Scott Rakos of the 6th District sponsored the resolution. It was backed by Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr.
The resolution outlines the concerns regarding the impacts a new convention center would have on Hammond and Lake County. The resolution passed 8-1. Councilman Barry Tyler, Jr. of the 3rd District cast the lone vote supporting the convention center plan.
“As the largest city in Lake County, Hammond has long been a major contributor to the Region’s economy,” McDermott said in a press release. “We’ve seen firsthand how recent state decisions have already negatively impacted our casino revenues, and this convention center could further threaten our city’s economic stability.”
Concerns raised in the resolution include:
- Declining casino revenues: Hammond has experienced a decline in casino revenues following the opening of the Hard Rock Casino in Gary.
- Lack of market support: The resolution cites the closure and demolition of the Star Plaza convention center in Merrillville as evidence that there may not be sufficient market demand for a viable convention facility in the area.
- Public cost and risk: A convention center would require tens of millions of public dollars to build and maintain, potentially diverting resources away from other economic development needs throughout Lake County.
- Unfair competitive advantage: The city argues that selecting a site near the Hard Rock Casino could unfairly benefit one casino at the expense of others, including Hammond’s Horseshoe Casino and East Chicago’s Ameristar.
- Economic uncertainty: With a looming economic downturn and state budget changes on the horizon, the city warns that now is not the time to commit to a costly and potentially risky project.
The resolution urges the Lake County Board of Commissioners not to move forward with selecting a site for the convention center at this time, emphasizing that such a decision does not make economic sense and is not in the best interests of Hammond residents or Lake County taxpayers.
The council’s resolution will be sent to the commissioners as they review proposals for the convention center in Hobart and Gary. A final decision is expected on or before June 1.
