Marvelous Ambridge Mann a Gary gem. This northwestern Gary neighborhood boasts a rich history. Once home to two distinct areas Ambridge and Horace Mann. Ambridge took its name from the American Bridge Works a U S Steel subsidiary. Horace Mann was named after a local school.
Initially a whites-only community. Ambridge Mann underwent a significant transformation in the 1970s. The heavily Jewish community was replaced by middle-class African Americans. Many residents migrated to Miller Beach during this period.
Ambridge Mann’s location is key. Situated just south of Interstate 90. Easily seen while driving on Buchanan Street. The neighborhood is traversed by the South Shore Line. It’s also bisected by US highways 12 and 20. These run along 4th and 5th Avenues. The Indiana Toll Road runs just north. An interchange sits at Grant Street. Gary Public Transportation Corporation buses serve the area. The South Shore Line used to have an Ambridge station but service ended in 1994.
Housing is primarily single-family homes. A cluster of historic apartments lines 5th Avenue. In 2000 it had a 92% occupancy rate and a 49% owner-occupancy rate. Most homes were built in the first half of the twentieth century. They housed managers at the Gary Works. Many are in the prairie style or art deco.
Ambridge Mann is more than just houses. The Gary Masonic Temple stands proudly. So does the Ambassador Apartment building. Home values were among Gary’s highest in 2007. A median of $70145 second only to Miller Beach.
And finally a surprising fact. Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz grew up here. In a brick bungalow near the river on Arthur Street. A truly remarkable neighborhood. A testament to Gary’s diverse past and present. The Ambridge Mann a story waiting to be discovered.