Chesterton Building Commissioner Mark O’Dell had a pretty simple point to make at the Town Council’s meeting Monday night, Feb. 10.
Namely, that it’s easy to forget—or simply to overlook—that the sheer quantity of concrete and brick and steel and glass in which businesses and institutions have invested over the last three years in the Town of Chesterton has an economic value.
And that economic value is significant: $94,574,007.
“There’s been a lot of economic development going on in the town,” O’Dell told the Town Council. “You don’t always think of the value of what they’re presenting.”
2022 ECONOMIC VALUE
In 2022, the value of new commercial and institutional construction, additions, and remodels totaled $40,404,298:
Begin with the three additions: Lakeshore Ambulatory Surgery Center, 3111 Village Point ($3,554,000); Urschel Laboratories Inc., 1200 Cutting Edge Drive ($1.5 million); BP gas station, 525 Indian Boundary Road ($200,000).
At least as impressive is the amount which existing businesses spent on remodeling their facilities or new businesses did on empty ones: NorthShore Health Center, 801 Broadway ($3.5 million); Westchester Public Library, 200 W. Indiana Ave. ($1,951,145); Glacial Sands Oral Surgery Center, 1008 Broadway ($650,000); BP gas station, 525 Indian Boundary Road ($400,000); Smoothie King, 301 Indian Boundary Road($134,900); Johnstone Supply, 781 Michael Drive ($121,253); Starbucks at Jewel/Osco, 747 Indian Boundary Road ($100,000); Parkdale Center, 350 Indian Boundary Road ($100,000); Taco Bell, 702 Plaza Drive ($60,000); Fireflies, 1505 S. Calumet Road ($51,000); Evexia Salt Cave, 1583-A S. Calumet Road ($42,500); L.A. Bell Motor Lines Inc., 950 Wabash Ave. ($42,000); Heartland Wellness Center, 101 Beverly Drive ($20,000).
Now add four Duneland School Corporation projects: The addition and remodel at Westchester Middle/Intermediate School, 1050 S. Fifth St. ($11 million and $16 million respectively); at Chesterton Middle School, 651 W. Morgan Ave. ($498,500); at Chesterton High School, 2125 S. 11th St. ($479,000).
2023 ECONOMIC VALUE
In 2023, the value of new commercial and institutional construction, additions, and remodels totaled $43,727,251.
New commercial construction: Ameling Properties, 116 E. 1100N ($4,417,000); Black Drum Capital LLC, five storage buildings, 350 Council Drive ($2.8 million); Wise Guys Discount Liquors, 504 E. 1100N ($2,650,000); Chipotle, 2700 Matson Drive ($1.2 million); Luke Oil Company, three storage buildings, 1661 Pioneer Trail ($750,000); Starbucks, 381 Indian Boundary Road ($550,000);
Commercial and industrial additions: Urschel Laboratories Inc., two different additions, 1200 Cutting Edge Drive ($20,350,000); Hilton Garden Inn, bar addition, 501 Gateway Blvd. ($606,295); Trinity Worldwide LLC, 1541 S. Calumet Road ($590,000).
Commercial remodels: Westchester Public Library, 200 W. Indiana Ave. ($1,951,145); Fluid Coffee Roaster, 501-1108 Allen Court ($380,000); Muse Med Spa, 501-1101Allen Court ($350,000); University of Chicago Medicine, 800 Indian Boundary Road($231,265); Century Complete Homes, 757-3 Indian Boundary Road ($90,000); Melt Brow & Blow Out Bar, 501-1103 Allen Court ($65,000); Parkdale Center, 350 Indian Boundary Road ($14,768); Mia’s Catering, 401 Broadway ($9,000).
And add the remodel of Bailly Elementary School, 800 S. Fifth St. ($7,922,778).
2024 ECONOMIC VALUE
In 2024, the value of new commercial and institutional construction, additions, and remodels totaled $10,442,458.
New commercial construction: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 2940 Matson Drive ($1.78 million); Great & Small Animal Clinic, 1200 C.R. 1050N ($1.55 million); Net Par, 2780 Matson Drive ($1.25 million); Dunkin Donuts, 502 Pintail Trace ($1,120,000); Black Drum Capital LLC, storage facility, 350 Council Drive ($225,000); Chesterton Feed & Garden Center, storage and office, 400 Locust St. ($130,000).
Commercial remodels: Jewel/Osco, 747 Indian Boundary Road ($875,000); Baugher Center, 100 W. Indiana Ave. ($837,000); YMCA Healthy Living Campus ($602,734); HSA Commercial Real Estate, three office spaces, 3100 Village Point ($278,500, $81,000, and $41,960); Urschel Laboratories Inc., 1200 Cutting Edge Drive ($250,000); Wing Stop, 761 Indian Boundary Road, Suite 5 ($200,000); Wiers Club Car, 1601 S. Calumet Road ($200,000); Signature Smiles Dental Spa, 711-6 Plaza Drive ($157,144); Red Cup Cafe, 117 Broadway ($150,000); AT&T, 560-5 Indian Boundary Road ($45,000).
Commercial additions: Main Street building, steel deck, 119 S. Calumet Road($300,000); Black Drum Capital, workshop, 419 Council Drive ($168,020).
And add a remodel at Chesterton High School, 2125 S. 11th St. ($200,000).