The Indiana Board of Tax Review issued a ruling to increase the assessment of the Crossings at Hobart in Merrillville by more than $19 million, Lake County Assessor LaTonya Spearman announced Tuesday.

Crossings at Hobart, LLC, owned by Schottenstein Property Group, is a 758,313-square-foot shopping center — with Guitar Center, Office Depot and Best Buy — located on East 80th Avenue in Merrillville across the street from Southlake Mall.

Representatives with Schottenstein Property Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Within the court case, tax assessments for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were being appealed, Spearman said in a news release. In each of those years, the property was assessed between $61 million and $64 million, she said. Through appeal, the taxpayer wanted to reduce the value to about $54 million, according to the release.

But, the Indiana Board of Tax Review found the assessor’s appraisal “more credible” with property values from $66 million in 2012 to just over $70 million in 2015, according to the release. Over the four years in the case, the final determination results in a total increased assessment of $19.6 million, according to the release.

“Evaluating appeals and the

accuracy of assessments is our job here at the Lake County Assessor’s office, and in this particular case, it was clear that no reduction to Crossings at Hobart was warranted,” Spearman said. “This property was actually undervalued, and we couldn’t be more pleased that the Indiana Board of Tax Review agreed.”

Schottenstein Property Group has 45 days to appeal the decision, according to the news release.