Gary businessman vows to stay, despite council vote

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Webb

Updated: February 21, 2012 8:26AM

GARY — Businessman Larry Webb said Wednesday he plans to open his business at the former Beckman Middle School, despite the City Council’s rejection of his rezoning request.

“The only thing we can do now, is move in and they’ll have to go to court and get us out of there,” said Webb who wasn’t surprised at the vote against the rezoning change.

“It was all planned, they knew what they were going to do,” said Webb who operates Eclipse Charters & Tours, Eclipse Limousine Service and Larry E. Webb Construction Co. “You got people there from one block, you’re going to say they represent the whole district?”

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said Wednesday her new administration would work with Webb to see if an amicable solution can be found. Last week, she introduced a new economic team, including a new Department of Commerce, bent on attracting business to the city.

“It’s really indicative of need for Department of Commerce. From the beginning, that department would have worked with Mr. Webb to see what would be the best place ... ”

The mayor discounted Webb’s comment about a lawsuit. “We’ll try a kinder, gentler approach,” she said.

“We’re going to work with him to see if there is something we can do to find a suitable location ... It’s really illustrative of what should not happen.”

Webb purchased the school at 1430 W. 23rd Ave. last year from the Gary Community School Corp. for $100,000 with plans to move his charter bus business and open a trade school at the site. He said he needed a location close to Interstate 80/94. He sold his business property at 9340 Melton Road after receiving an offer from the National Park Service. The council on Tuesday rejected the rezone after neighbors objected to noise and pollution from Webb’s buses.

Webb said Beckman School had buses idling in its parking lot every day picking up and dropping off students.

Meanwhile, Chuck Hughes, executive director the Gary Chamber of Commerce, defended Webb.

“From our perspective, Larry Webb has been a businessperson in our community for years and he’s hired local people and he’s contributed to greater economy of this community,” said Hughes. “I think he’s demonstrated his commitment to the city and to the Gary economy.”

Hughes said he’d rather see a tax-paying business there, than a shuttered, vandalized building.

Webb spent Wednesday at the Beckman site and an alarm company installed security equipment.

“We wasted a whole year going in circles. I can’t waste any more time.”

Reach reporter Carole Carlson at 648-3154.