It is located east of Grant Street, south of the Grand Calumet River, north of 9th Avenue, and west of Interstate 65.

Further south along Broadway are the Indiana Department of Social Services building and the Gary Housing Authority offices.

A large area of the downtown neighborhood (including City Methodist) was devastated by fire on October 12, 1997.

[3][4] The Genesis Convention Center was built in 1981 in a failed effort to stimulate a rebirth of the downtown.

[6] The Downtown neighborhood suffers from extensive vacant lots and abandoned buildings.