JACKSON MUSEUM

Jackson museum plan inches forward


Story Discussion By Christine Kraly christine.kraly@nwi.com, (219) 662-5335
Posted: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 12:00 am
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GARY
A Las Vegas-based group, backed by Michael Jackson's family, is a step closer to building a multimillion-dollar shrine to the King of Pop and his family.



The Jackson Family Heritage Foundation Inc. has registered with the Indiana secretary of state as a nonprofit corporation.



Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson and Las Vegas-based developer Simon Sahouri are among those listed as group incorporators.



Sahouri and Jackson joined Gary Mayor Rudy Clay at the start of June in the Steel City to announce plans for a museum-anchored megaplex dedicated to the Jacksons, expected to cost at least $300 million.



The city signed a real estate agreement with Sahouri and Joe and Katherine Jackson to transfer -- under certain conditions -- more than 300 acres of city land to the group to develop. The agreement didn't call for the city to be paid any money for the land.



Gary Corporation Counsel Susan Severtson has said that, per Indiana law, the group also must establish itself as a tax-exempt charitable organization according to Internal Revenue Service guidelines before the transfer can be complete.



The first step in doing that is registering with the secretary of state, as the group did last week, spokesman Todd Darroca said.



An IRS spokeswoman Monday said the group does not yet have an approved tax-exempt application on file with the agency.



The real estate agreement completed in June was designated between the city of Gary and the Jackson Family Charitable Foundation.



Severtson did not return Times calls Monday seeking more information, including whether the agreement may need to be reworded to reflect the group's different registered name.



Gary attorney Kevin Relphorde is listed as the Jackson group's registered agent. Relphorde also has served as lawyer for Gary's Genesis Convention Center Board of Managers.



Relphorde did not return a Times call Monday.



Times staff writer Bowdeya Tweh contributed to this report.



Posted in Gary on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 12:00 am Updated: 11:55 pm.
Tags: Michael Jackson