Miller Historical Society in conjunction with Indiana Landmarks will be hosting a special community-wide meeting to officially present the Conditions Assessment of the Historic Ming Ling complex that was recently completed by Chicago-based architecture firm, HusArchitecture. The presentation will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, May 20th at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Paul H. Douglas Center – 100 N Lake Street in Miller. The entire community is welcome to attend & light refreshments will be served.
Part of Miller Historical Society’s mission is to promote the preservation, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of Miller’s historic structures. In addition to historic preservation, we also support the idea of new construction and infill projects that would improve Miller’s downtown historic core. However, Miller Historical Society was quite concerned when we heard last fall that a plan was in the works to tear down the Historic Ming Ling complex in order to build a parking lot.
The Ming Ling building is one of our oldest surviving structures, not just in Downtown Miller, but in the entire city of Gary. The building was constructed in 1910, just 4 years after the City of Gary was founded in 1906. The Ming Ling building has now been part of the landscape and culture of downtown Miller Beach and the city of Gary for 106 years! The building is historically significant as is one of only a handful of structures that survive from Gary’s early period of rapid growth.
Miller Historical Society’s position was that if it is at all possible, we should work to preserve the historic Ming Ling complex as it is an important piece of the history, heritage and architectural legacy of Miller Beach. We also felt that if the building was renovated and the beautiful historic facade restored, the former Ming Ling complex would be an attractive, prime location for new business in our downtown. In keeping with that notion, Miller Historical Society approached Indiana Landmarks to seek their help in saving the Ming Ling complex.
Thankfully, Indiana Landmarks shared our sentiments and also wanted to save Ming Ling from demolition. Under the direction of Indiana Landmarks, Miller Historical Society applied for and was awarded an “Efroymson Family Endangered Places Grant.” The grant enabled Miller Historical Society to hire a qualified architecture firm to conduct a “Conditions Assessment” of the Ming Ling Complex. A Conditions Assessment determines if a structure is structurally sound and salvageable. It also lays out what steps are needed to save a building and how much that work will cost. Completing a Conditions Assessment is the first step in Indiana Landmark’s process of saving historic buildings. The Assessment is now complete!
So please join Miller Historical Society and Indiana Landmarks this Saturday for the official public presentation of the completed Ming Ling Conditions Assessment!
Together we can help save the history of Miller Beach from the shifting sands of time!
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