Michael Jackson Museum to be built

Plans are going forward to build a Michael Jackson museum in the late artist's hometown.

Construction on the Jackson Family Museum and Hotel and Michael Jackson Performing Arts and Cultural Center and Theaters will begin as early as next year, reports The AP.

Rudy Clay, mayor of Gary, IN, says that the $300m (£204.3m) project will be financed by donations from private investors, while the city of Gary has also provided 300 acres of land on which to build the attractions.

Jackson's father Joe assured reporters at an Indiana press conference this week that he would ensure that the museum was completed in a timely fashion.

Gary's mayor, Rudy Clay, said the project would generate up to $150m (£102m) for the town every year.

"This project will be the magnet that will draw people from all over the world," he said.

It was announced on Wednesday that the town will donate 300 acres of land to the project, which is expected to kickstart progress towards the facility.

Money for the building work will be derived from donations and private investors, Mr Clay added.

Some residents of the town are sceptical that the project will ever get off the ground.

Seretha Harvey, 24, told the Associated Press she was "worried" that it would never be completed, adding the town has been deteriorating in recent years.

But she went on to say that she remained "optimistic" about the project coming to fruition.