2800 E Dunes Hwy, Gary, IN 46402

Detailed Description & Highlights

Expansive interior of the former Republic Steel mill, showcasing steel-frame construction and high clear heights. 2800 E. Dunes Highway is a substantial industrial facility encompassing ≈264,093 square feet under roof on approximately 20 acres of land. Formerly a manufacturing hub for Republic Steel, the property offers a robust industrial infrastructure that can be leveraged for modern manufacturing, processing, or logistics uses. Key highlights include 15 megawatts of available power (suitable for energy-intensive operations), active rail spur connectivity to mainline rail (critical for bulk material shipping), and M-3 Heavy Industrial zoning which permits a wide array of heavy manufacturing and distribution activities.

This single-story steel mill building features expansive open floor areas with high ceilings, overhead crane ways, and heavy floor load capacity – ideal for machinery, fabrication lines, or high-stacking warehouse storage. The structure is built for industrial durability, with a steel superstructure, reinforced concrete slab, and ample column spacing. Adjoining the main structure are auxiliary spaces for offices, employee facilities, and equipment rooms that can be renovated or expanded as needed. In total, the facility provides a rare combination of immense size, power, and logistics access, appealing to both industrial tenant-users and investors looking to reposition the asset for subleasing.

Key property highlights include:

• Massive Building Footprint: ~264,093 square feet of single-story industrial space with high clear spans, suitable for heavy equipment or high-volume warehousing.

• Robust Power & Utilities: Equipped with 15 MW electrical capacity (utility-grade power) and industrial utilities to support manufacturing, distribution, warehouse, or data center uses.

• Multimodal Transport Access: Adjacent rail spur with Class 1 rail access and close proximity to Port of Indiana – Burns Harbor (approx. 8 miles), providing global shipping links via Lake Michigan. Easy highway access to I-90/94and I-65 enables efficient trucking to Chicago and nationwide.

• Strategic Location: Positioned in Gary’s industrial corridor on the Lake Michigan shoreline (the historic heart of U.S. steel country), the site benefits from a strong labor pool and supplier network in Northwest Indiana. It lies within the Chicago metro area for convenient access to markets and talent.

• Zoning & Incentives: M-3 zoning (heavy manufacturing) allows a wide range of industrial uses. The City of Gary is pro-development, with potential tax abatement and economic incentives for large job-creating projects.

Site Specifications

Building Area: Approximately 264,093 square feet (single-story). The building is currently in shell condition, allowing a user to outfit it to specific requirements. Significant portions of the roof and walls are in place, and the interior is primarily clear span space with minimal supporting offices (which can be built-out or removed as needed).

Site Area: ~20 acres (≈ 871,200 SF) of land. The expansive yard can accommodate laydown areas, outdoor storage, or additional structures. There is ample room for truck courts, trailer parking, and railcar staging. The site’s footprint also offers potential for rail loop expansion or adding a spur for unit train access if required by heavy rail users.

Power & Utilities: 15 MW (15,000 kW) electric power capacity on site, fed by a dedicated substation capable of heavy industrial load. This high electrical capacity is a standout feature (far exceeding typical warehouse power) and can support energy-intensive processes such as arc furnaces, large-scale fabrication, or crypto mining data centers. Water, gas, and sewer services are available at industrial volumes/pressures, given the property’s past use in steel production. The facility could also be a candidate for renewable energy integration (e.g., rooftop solar or private substation upgrades) to further enhance power reliability and reduce long-term energy costs.

Loading & Rail: Multiple grade-level doors and high-bay openings exist for truck loading/unloading, and additional dock-high loading bays can be installed during redevelopment (the structure allows for knock-out panel installation). The property’s rail spur enters the site along the eastern boundary, with space to spot multiple railcars on-site. Class A rail service (with connections to national rail lines) means bulk materials can be delivered directly to the building, a rare feature for many industrial properties. This can dramatically lower the transportation cost for raw materials (steel, aggregates, etc.) or bulk product shipments.

Ceiling Height: Predominantly high bay industrial space; exact clear heights vary but much of the building offers 30’+ clearance at the center (with crane rails mounted at approximately 25’ height). This is sufficient for overhead crane operation and installation of mezzanines or tall racking systems if used for warehousing. The structural steel frame can support heavy roof-mounted equipment or additional craneways as needed.

Construction: Industrial-grade construction – steel framing with metal panel and masonry exterior walls. The foundations are reinforced concrete, engineered to bear extremely heavy loads (previously supporting steel mill machinery). Sections of the building have clerestory windows and vents from the mill days, providing opportunity for adding modern translucent panels or HVAC systems for a climate-controlled environment. Overall, the structure is sound, ready for retrofit, and far faster to adapt than a ground-up equivalent (with demolition of obsolete portions as an option to create more open yard or new construction area).