Hammond board denies demolition affirmation for one property, schedules status reviews for several others

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…