Water tower demolition should lead to change
Watching the surprise demolition of Gary’s historic water tower was painful. It should serve as a lesson that the city needs more public engagement, a stronger Historic Preservation Commission and increased cooperation among city departments to better address historic places worth saving.
Despite widespread community support for preserving the structure, the historic water tower is coming down.
In 2019, Indiana American Water announced its intention to demolish the 133-foot water tower that has marked Gary’s skyline since 1909, arguing it would be obsolete after construction of a new water tower across the street. Indiana Landmarks urged alternatives to demolition and offered funds for a rehabilitation plan, noting the estimated $1 million rehabilitation estimate wasn’t much more than the $900,000 price tag for demolition.
In response to the threat, Calumet Heritage Partnership listed the Gary Water Tower on its inaugural Calumet Heritage Area Most Endangered List. Advocates from Chicago wrote in support of saving Gary’s tower, citing the success of Chicago’s rehabilitated water tower.
The Gary Water Tower was part engineering innovation and part architectural wonder. Rather than settling for an exposed steel skeleton, the
Gary Heat, Light, and Water Company added a concrete block shell that transformed the utilitarian tower into an octagonal landmark, complete with decorative cornice and parapet wall. The tower quickly became a city icon — a point of pride and a symbol of civic identity. Its destruction is a dramatic loss for the city’s skyline.
News of the demolition came as a surprise after Gary officials initially indicated support for preserving the landmark. Later, city officials admitted that the demolition permit had been granted in error.
While the Gary Common Council created the Gary Historic Preservation Commission in 2007, sadly, seats remained vacant for a decade. Since 2017, the commission has only designated one property as a local landmark.
Enhanced support from city staff and coordination with planning, building and redevelopment departments would lead to more positive results for buildings that are architecturally significant and economically feasible to rehabilitate. Increased cooperation could help identify solutions for some of the city’s other endangered landmarks, including Theodore Roosevelt High School, the North Gleason Park Community Building, Miller Town Hall, and the Gary Heat, Light, and Water Building. Gary’s U.S. Post Office and Palace Theater are both seriously deteriorated, but creative redevelopment strategies could certainly include their historic facades.
Other cities have adopted commonsense demolition review processes providing historic preservation commissions, city staff and preservation organizations an opportunity to vet proposed demolition of buildings previously identified as historic.
With the combined efforts of residents, organizations, city government and Indiana Landmarks, we can turn the page to a new chapter to saving Gary’s meaningful places.