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Redevelopment commission opens 30-day public review for Jacob Square residential plan
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Summary
The Hammond Redevelopment Commission accepted a residential housing development program for the Jacob Square area and opened a 30-day public input period required by state statute ahead of a possible declaratory resolution in November.
The Hammond Redevelopment Commission on Oct. 6 accepted a draft Residential Housing Development Program for the Jacob Square area and opened the 30-day public review and comment period required under Indiana Code 36-7-15-53(d)(3).
The program covers roughly 40 acres bounded roughly by Fayette Street, Carroll Street, Seoul Street and Calumet Avenue and envisions about 35 new residential dwelling units — single-family homes or duplexes — on lots of about 4,000 to 5,500 square feet. Dan Bowditch, of Development Economic Finance Consulting LLC, told the commission the program identifies about 51 properties on 19 sites, of which the commission owns the majority of parcels within the proposed area. Bowditch said estimated private investment would be about $7 million to $8 million and public infrastructure costs about $1 million to $1.25 million.
"It is not approving anything at this time," Bowditch said of the commission's action; the acceptance simply begins the public review and submissions to overlapping taxing units and the Lake County assessor. Bowditch told commissioners the plan had been updated since an August draft and that city planning recommendations and a 2018 Jeff Speck analysis were incorporated into the site-by-site guidance.
Commissioners voted 5-0 to accept version 2 of the Jacob Square Residential Housing Development Program for public review. Commissioners Myricks and Tomage moved and seconded the motion, respectively. Staff said a public meeting will be scheduled and that the commission could consider a declaratory resolution at its Nov. 18 meeting after the review and required filings.
Why it matters: the RHDP is the statutory first step if the commission later seeks to establish a residential allocation area and use tax increment financing for housing in Jacob Square. The plan sets the scale of private development the commission seeks to attract and outlines estimated public infrastructure investment.
What's next: the commission will post the draft for a 30-day review period, solicit neighborhood and stakeholder input and submit the document to overlapping taxing units and the Lake County assessor as required by statute. A public meeting — not a statutory public hearing — will be scheduled before any declaratory resolution is considered.
