The groundbreaking Friday for Chesterton’s $4 million town hall/fire station remodeling project was marked as a historic moment of change for the community.

Councilwoman Erin Collins, D-2nd, who is the newest member of the Town Council, acted as the master of ceremonies because she is council liaison to the fire department.

“Today we come together not only to break ground, but to lay the foundation for a stronger, more connected, and better-equipped community,” Collins said.

Collins called the remodeling and expansion of the Chesterton Fire Department — a two-story, 1,700-foot addition — a “critical investment for our future.”

“With a new, dedicated training room, our firefighters will have a space for continuing education, ensuring they have the tools they need to stay sharp and meet the needs of our growing town,” Collins said.And the town hall remodeling job is far more than an “updating” of the meeting space, replete with technology upgrades.

“We are reimagining what a town gathering place should be. The new community room will be a welcoming space for our community to gather, host events and engage one another,” Collins said.

Councilman James Ton, R-1st, a council veteran, hailed this as a historic moment of change for Chesterton.

“Change can be intimidating, uncertain. Change is necessary however to ensure greatness for the generations that are to come. Change takes courage, and courage can make it happen,” Ton said. “The good may be forgotten tomorrow, but have the courage to do good anyway. Moving forward, Chesterton.”

Last September, a new $5.6 million police station was built across 8th Street and Broadway.

The police moved out of their dingy quarters, which were on the east end of the town hall. The old police station portion of the building was knocked down to create more parking spaces.

To finance the town hall/fire station project, Chesterton expanded its tax increment financing (TIF) district so that a portion of the property tax receipts can be used to pay off a bond for the $4 million project.

Fire Chief Sean O’Donnell, the former Gary fire chief who came over to Chesterton in October 2023, thanked the town council for making this project happen.

“The council not only made this project possible, but they expedited it quicker than I thought it was going to happen,” O’Donnell said. “The face-lift has turned into a two-story addition.”

The scope of the fire station project includes improved sleeping quarters and accommodations for women employees along with better offices for the department’s leaders.

Larson-Danielson of LaPorte, which was the contractor for the police station project, will be the contractor for the town hall/fire station project.

Gregory Kil of Kil Architecture and Planning spoke briefly about the project.

As if on cue, one of the 85 trains that rumble through the town daily passed by. Kil noted that one of the features of the town hall remodel project will deaden the noise from the passing trains, which at times can drown out speakers during town meetings.

Construction is expected to continue through early next year.

Meanwhile, town meetings will be held either at the Baugher Center of the Westchester Public Library or at the Duneland School Corporation chambers.

The town is also looking to lease the Tilden building, 360 Lincoln St. in Porter, as a temporary space for the Chesterton Fire Department.

Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.