The Hammond Nuisance Abatement Board denied an order to affirm a demolition notice for 642 Spruce Street and referred the matter back to inspections, while setting status hearings or orders to appear for a string of other properties as owners and contractors reported varying levels of repair work and financing issues.
The board said the inspections department reported that repairs at 642 Spruce — including garage roof repairs, gutters, house flat roof work and tuckpointing along the front stairs — were complete and a final inspection call was the remaining step. Jordan, an inspections staff member, told the board those items were finished and that the contractor needed to request a final inspection to close the permit. After that report, the board voted to deny the requested order to affirm the demolition order and to refer the matter back to inspections for final verification.
The decision matters because it pauses a potential demolition while inspectors confirm the work, preserving a route for property rehabilitation rather than abatement.
Beyond 642 Spruce, the board moved multiple cases to future status hearings and, in one case, issued an order for an owner to appear. Amada Brett, who identified herself as the owner of properties that were purchased together including the former Chuck and Irene’s building, told the board she has invested in renovating the adjacent building and is working on the fire-damaged structure to the south but asked for time to complete work and secure financing. Brett said she has applied for a façade program from the City of Hammond and that the larger package purchase occurred Jan. 30; she said the converted property will include 23 rooms upstairs and that roof repair bids she had received were “50 to $80 just for the roof alone.” The board set a status hearing for Feb. 5, 2026 for that property and asked inspections to raise objections if security or other hazards arise in the meantime.
At a separate hearing, the owner of 6102–04 Kennedy appeared and described a multi-building purchase made as a package. The owner said exterior rehabilitation and interior work are underway and requested more time; the board agreed to set the case for a status review on Feb. 5, 2026. For 1728 Stanton, the board said the property is part of an estate and that attorney Bonk represents the estate; the board agreed to push that matter one week to Oct. 9, 2025 to allow staff to check with the attorney and the estate for clarification about plans or homestead removal.
Several other properties were continued to later status dates because inspections reported outstanding final-inspection calls or other incomplete items: 6349–51 Jefferson (set for Nov. 6, 2025); 7339 California (set for Nov. 6, 2025; staff said homestead removal documentation was reported via email but final inspections remained outstanding and inspectors will provide final photos); 1430 Stanton (set for Nov. 6, 2025); and 7327 Chestnut (set for Oct. 9, 2025) after inspectors reported final inspections cleared for plumbing and electrical.
Contractor Felipe Hernandez, who said he represents Hernandez General Contractor, told the board he has been contracted on multiple rehab projects but cannot complete some until owners make funds available; he said he had a meeting scheduled with an owner the same day and asked the owner to appear at future hearings. The board agreed to issue an order to appear for one owner related to 6126 Harrison and set that matter for Oct. 9, 2025.
Several cases with small outstanding items were given short continuances. For a property at 1021 Moss, contractor and occupant testimony said the final inspections were completed and the board set a one-week status review to confirm final clearance; staff requested that inspections email the board if finals passed so the order could be rescinded earlier.
Discussion vs. decision: the record shows a mix of staff updates and owner testimony that informed the board’s procedural decisions; where inspectors reported completed work the board denied or held off on demolition affirmations and referred matters back to inspections; where work or owner responses remained incomplete the board set future status dates or ordered owners to appear.
The board’s next scheduled status dates include Oct. 9, 2025; Oct. 16, 2025 (for a short review if finals are confirmed); Feb. 5, 2026; and Nov. 6, 2025, depending on the property. The board asked inspections to provide photos and to notify staff if final inspections cleared cases before the scheduled dates.
Ending: The board repeatedly emphasized that its willingness to delay demolition or rescind orders depended on confirmed, verifiable inspections and, in some cases, owner participation at future hearings. Owners and contractors were repeatedly reminded that permits and final inspection calls must be completed and documented for matters to be closed.