Gary to close Broadway for hotel demolition work

GARY, Ind. - The street in front of Gary City Hall will be closed from 6 a.m. Tuesday until 7 p.m. Friday so demolition work can be done on a 12-story hotel that once was a symbol of a northwestern Indiana city's hopes for turnaround.

City officials say Broadway will be closed in both directions between Fourth and Fifth avenues. The city is asking people to move their vehicles before the street is closed.

The 300-room hotel opened in 1968 as a Holiday Inn and later was purchased by Sheraton. It has been closed since 1985.

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson made a campaign promise to tear it down, saying the the sight of the tallest building downtown sitting empty sent a poor message to people passing by on the Indiana Toll Road.