Merrillville business plans move forward

New businesses are planned for two prime locations in Merrillville — the DirectBuy building on Broadway and the former Levin Tire location on U.S. 30.

Bruce Boyer, who owns the vacant building at 1710 E. 81st Ave., received a positive recommendation March 27 from the Board of Zoning Appeals to house Mobility Works, a national chain that sells and services vehicles equipped to assist individuals with special needs. Boyer said the vehicles will be manufactured by BraunAbility of Winamac and another company that makes wheelchair-accessible van conversions.

A vehicle may need to be further modified on site to suit a client’s particular needs, such as adding brackets to hold a wheelchair in place or altering the arm controls, he said.

“There will be extensive remodeling of the building, about a $200,000 to $300,000 exterior investment and a half a million interior investment,” Boyer said.

Zoning director Sheila Shine said parking lot lights would be replaced and the parking lot would be repaved. She said the business will have about 15 employees.

The proposal was forwarded to the town council by the BZA on a 3-0 vote.

“This is a perfect fit for the area,” said BZA member Chuck Stojakovich.

Town Attorney Joseph Svetanoff said this would put a tenant in a vacant facility and serve a specific need.

Boyer said the building has been vacant for five years.

The BZA also voted 3-0 in favor of a proposal to operate a climate-controlled self-storage facility at the DirectBuy calling center, at 8450 Broadway.

Shine said the owners of DirectBuy are selling the four-acre property. Plans call for a total of 365 rental units; 228 on the main level and 137 on the second.

Schererville attorney James Wieser, representing the prospective owners, said renters would have access to the building by using a key code from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“The building lends itself very well to self-storage use,” Wieser said.

Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.