The Valparaiso Parks Department has entered a partnership with Sports Facilities Companies of Clearwater, Florida, for the projected $20 million redevelopment of the former McGill factory at 909 N. Lafayette St. near the heart of downtown Valparaiso.
After 116 years in operation and founded by James McGill, McGill Manufacturing ceased operations in 2021. For more than a century, the factory lines assembled and produced a variety of components and specialized in providing the switches and wiring needed for appliances ranging from washers to power tools, with shifts working around the clock.
Director of Valpo Parks Kevin Nuppnau said the project “marks a significant step forward in bringing a comprehensive indoor recreation and enrichment campus to the Valparaiso community.”
The expansive structure and its surrounding parking lots had fallen into an untidy appearance of weeds, peeling paint and visible graffiti on the exterior in recent years.
The Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission purchased the property earlier this spring for $2.5 million. The Valparaiso Parks Department envisions transforming the 16-acre site, including its expansive 225,000-square-foot industrial building, into a year-round recreation hub for programming and activities.
The temporary project name is the Valpo Recreation and Enrichment Campus (Valpo REC), billed as “a multi-faceted facility for diverse programming and dedicated spaces for sports, community events, rental opportunities, and various educational activities for residents and visitors.”
Sports Facilities Companies will serve in the capacity as “owner’s representative,” which Nuppnau explains “provides crucial oversight and expertise throughout the project, ensuring efficient planning, design and construction.
“The immediate next step in this process will be for Valpo Parks and SFC to issue a Request for Proposals for a qualified design-build firm, which our team intends to issue the RFP by mid-July,” Nuppnau said.
“This partnership with Sports Facilities Companies is a testament to our commitment to delivering a world-class indoor recreational solution for Valparaiso,” Nuppnau said.
“Their extensive experience in developing and managing premier sports and recreation facilities aligns perfectly with our vision for Valpo REC. We are excited to move forward with a partner who will ensure this project progresses efficiently and effectively, ultimately creating a valuable community asset.”
Nuppnau said funding for the redevelopment of the property will be strategically sourced through the remaining Sports Park bond funds, grant opportunities and public-private partnerships, and he anticipates opening the new facility in Fall 2027.
“While the project team is committed to maintaining the $20 million budget, several options would be considered should costs exceed this figure, such as reducing the project scope and implementing it in multiple phases while leveraging the Valpo Parks Foundation’s strong fundraising history to secure private donations and exploring the issuance of a general obligation or revenue bonds to ensure project completion,” Nuppnau said.
Valparaiso City Council member Diana Reed, D-1st, who serves as the council liaison for the park department, said the Regional Development Commission’s funding to purchase the property came from a portion of the $15 million bond the RDC originally took out for the unrealized sports complex pushed as a favorite project under previous Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy in 2023.
“While $20 million is the projected budget, the city will also explore available grant funding as well as contributions from other entities. There isn’t any existing space currently in Valparaiso similar in capacity or use when compared to Fairgrounds Park Pavilion or private spaces like Journeyman Distillery for weddings and events. Measuring in at 225,000 square feet, this new park and event space is bigger than any of the previous mentioned, including the Porter County Expo Center.”
For more information related to the project, visit www.valpoparks.org/731/Valpo-REC.
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.