The first house at Gary's Veterans Village is already under construction. That's where city officials, veterans and supporters gathered on Sept. 26 to break ground on the first phase of a project meant to help military veterans buy homes of their own.
The ceremony was held inside the unfinished home of the development's first homeowner, at 4661 W. 20th Court near Clark Road on Gary's West Side, according to the Chicago Crusader, which reported the event with The 411 News.
The $2.5 million project is being developed by Webb House Inc., led by executive director Robert Farmer. Phase 1 calls for five single-family homes, a 1,100-square-foot community clubhouse and a playground.
Construction project manager Ernest Brown said the three-bedroom home where the ceremony took place should be finished in about 45 days.
A city push, with federal and bank backing
Michael Suggs, Gary's chief of operations, spoke for Mayor Eddie Melton and the city administration. He pointed to Veterans Village as an example of public-private partnerships being used to grow housing while recognizing residents who served.
"With approximately 3,166 civilian veterans calling Gary home, this development underscores our unwavering commitment to honoring those who have served," Suggs said. "Through powerful partnerships, we are taking an incredible step forward today."
A City of Gary news release about the groundbreaking was passed along by Indiana 105 on Oct. 15. The city said the clubhouse and play area are "designed to serve as a neighborhood anchor."
The initiative has foundational support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Capital Bank. According to information released about the project, up to $1 million has been secured to support veterans seeking single-family homeownership.
Other partners named in the Crusader's report include Brown and Momen Inc., RiLA LLC, K. Brown and Associates Consulting LTD, Humana Insurance, Interface Carpet, Bob's Discount Furniture and Kidstuff Play Systems Inc. Neither the city's release nor the Crusader's report identified a general contractor for the homes.
Among the guests was former U.S. Army soldier and prisoner of war Jessica Lynch, who was captured in Iraq in March 2003 and rescued that April. Lynch said she has been working with Farmer since 2020.
"I do this same kind of work in West Virginia, supporting female veterans," Lynch said. "I help them secure benefits, help with resources and connect them with things they need."
Small project, big idea
Five houses won't change a city's housing market on their own, and nobody involved is claiming they will. But Veterans Village is built around a simple idea that a lot of people in the trades can appreciate: ownership. The goal is to give veterans a chance to put down permanent roots and build equity in a neighborhood designed with them and their families in mind.
The shared spaces matter, too. The clubhouse and playground are meant to give residents a place to gather, which can turn five separate lots into something that feels like a neighborhood.
It's also a phase-one project, and that name carries a promise. The city's release calls it Phase 1 of the Veterans Housing Project, but so far neither the city nor Webb House has laid out publicly how many homes later phases would add or when they might start. That's worth watching, because a working first phase is often what unlocks money for the next one.
For now, the timeline is short and practical: about 45 days for the first home, as Brown expects, with four more homes and the clubhouse to follow.
Why it matters for Contractors
Single-family homes built a few at a time are bread-and-butter work for local builders and subs in Northwest Indiana: foundations, framing, roofing, siding, windows, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, drywall and flooring, plus site work and playground installation for the shared spaces. A 45-day target on the first house is a fast pace that rewards crews who can show up on schedule and stay coordinated. No general contractor has been named publicly, so builders and trades who want in should reach out to Webb House Inc. And with the VA and Capital Bank backing veteran buyers, Gary's West Side could see more of this kind of work if Phase 1 goes well.