Locating a business in Merrillville will now require proof that a deal is in the works for redevelopment projects.
The Town Council at its meeting March 6 was told that an Illinois-based developer withdrew its petition last month at a Board of Zoning Appeals meeting to turn the former Strack & Van Til grocery store property at 73rd Avenue and Taft Street in Merrillville into a self-storage facility.
At that BZA meeting, property owner Frank Van Til said he didn’t have a contract with the developer.
As a result, Town Attorney Joe Sventanoff said businesses will now have to provide town building director Sheila Shine with a signed power-of-attorney, purchase agreement or other written documentation by both parties proving they’re working on a deal.
“Financing (for deals) falls through all the time. This is a different story,” Town Councilman Shawn Pettit, D-6th, said. “We spent three separate meetings on this and wasted a bunch of time on something that didn’t even come to fruition.”
Mark Reynolds, with Blackhall Corp., told the BZA that he had a contract to purchase the property all the way to the southern portion, with the exception of the gas station.
He sought variances to allow him to have climate-controlled, indoor storage lockers in the former grocery store, outside storage in the parking lot and to construct a building in excess of 17 feet in height.
Van Til said after that meeting he has a Realtor marketing the space, but he and the other tenants are looking for a business that generates foot traffic like the grocery store did.
They’ve had no offers yet, according to Van Til.
The council also approved unanimously a special exception approval the BZA gave to Kolbrook Designs for a Wingstop Inc. dine-in restaurant at 407 W. Lincoln Highway.
Part of a nationwide chain, the restaurant will have a 1930s aviation theme and 32 seats as well as four employees.
A representative said 70 percent of its business is carryout or delivery.
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