Vacant Gary, Ind., school sold to trucking firm

The city will be paid $1.2 million for the former Thomas Edison school.

The city of Gary, Ind., has sold the former Thomas Edison school building to a trucking firm for $1.2 million

The Northwest Indiana Times reports that Djuric Trucking, based in Hammond, wants to use the school site as a new location for its headquarters.

The sale comes a few months after the city purchased the site from the Gary school district for only $1 with the intent to put it out for bid.

The trucking firm plans to invest $2.9 million in a build-out at the school site, according to Eric Reaves, head of community investment for Gary.

Gary Mayor Jerome Prince has vowed to do something about the city's vacant schools, which have been described as some of Gary’s biggest eyesores.

Many of the city's public school buildings shuttered years ago have become littered with graffiti and targeted by trespassers and arsonists.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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