Hobart hopes to capitalize off a convention center with a new entertainment offering if the Lake County Commissioners end up picking its site northeast of the U.S. 30 and Interstate 65 interchange.
The city has been in talks with the developer of Patriot Park, formerly known as Silverstone, about including an entertainment venue in the mixed-used development that could end up costing $250 million to $300 million if it includes a convention center, Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun said. Hobart wants some entertainment at that site north of Costco and is aiming to push for more entertainment options along the U.S. 30 corridor.
"We call U.S. 30 and I-65 the capital of Lake County and we feel strong about investment," he said. "The Silverstone property was the No. 1 convention center site and we believe that's true. As we look at development across the county, we've really focused on these big-box distribution centers but the one thing we feel has been left out is the people. We have all these big-box distribution centers but what are the people going to do for the entertainment? So we are really focusing on an entertainment piece for that property that will give everyone of your residents something to do. What are they doing on Friday night? What are they doing on Saturday night? Where are the people who work at these big-box centers, these distribution centers going to do for fun?"
Hobart has long relied on retail but may need to focus more on entertainment going forward.
"We have to continue to be an economic driver drawing people to our community," Huddlestun said. "We feel the U.S. 30 corridor provides us that opportunity. We realize retail is dying. That's putting a strain on property tax values there. We really feel our community wants to be that center of entertainment, that hub where people from all across the Region are coming. We're looking at putting a sports complex there with potentially some other entertainment pieces. We're exciting about the Route 30 corridor and hope other people are excited as well."
Huddlestun said options could include a golf facility similar to Topgolf or ballfields.
"Obviously it's in the infancy stage but while we're a hotbed for development with distribution centers as a community we want to have places where the population can go for entertainment," he said. "We need entertainment for adults where young professionals can go. We need something that will draw people to that area. We need something to draw people to the restaurants, retail and hotels. It benefits the shopping and retail establishments."
Huddlestun said more entertainment options can be incorporated among the retail. Dick's Sporting Goods for instance has been putting outdoor soccer fields in some of its parking lots, an addition he said could help bring more energy and interest.
"The Route 30 corridor is the capital of Lake County. There's so many cars. It's prime for that type of growth," he said. "We want to steer the ship to navigate in that direction."
Southlake Mall for instance backfilled part of the former Dick's Sporting Goods that moved across the street with Kids Empire, a family entertainment center. Albanese Candy, the Deep River Water Park and Urban Air are popular entertainment options.
"Urban Air is always packed on the weekend. You can't find a parking space," he said. "Entertainment draws people so it would make sense by a convention center. People who go there are going to be looking for that fun, as well as dining and shopping experience. At the end of the day, we need to ensure that Route 30 stays viable and trends in the right direction."
As ecommerce has taken off, retail corridors like the Magnificent Mile have diversified with more entertainment like blockbuster Harry Potter, The Office and Prince experiences. The Oakbrook Center added the Sony Wonderverse entertainment center with the studio's various intellectual properties like Ghostbusters, Bad Boys and Zombieland and brought in traveling exhibits about Princess Diana and Michelangelo. Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie turned a former department store in an exhibition space that has brought in touring Downton Abbey and Titanic exhibits.
"We realize entertainment is vital to the future," he said. "We're hoping we can get entertainment and have a live, work, play environment."
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