Hammond board sets two status dates as owner seeks buyer for Holman Avenue building

The City of Hammond board set an internal status review for Oct. 9 and scheduled a planning-status update for Oct. 23 after the owner of the property at 5217 Holman said he has listed the building for sale and is exploring parking options to enable redevelopment. The owner told the board he recently listed the building on commercial sites such as LoopNet and Crexi and has shown photos of progress on demolitions and panel removal.

The decision came after an extended discussion about on-site safety panels and the building’s redevelopment prospects. The board said the panels — left in place during demolition for safety while a utility (NIPSCO) matter is resolved — are acceptable for now but the broader redevelopment question remains. Board members emphasized the property remains on a demolition list and that an environmental report has cited “significant concerns regarding mold and water in the basement.”

“...we haven't heard from you all regarding a plan for redevelopment through the planning department or otherwise. So we'd like to set this over for 2 weeks for a status,” a board member said when asking the owner to return with a plan. The owner described marketing efforts and repeated that prospective buyers have declined because of limited parking: “...they say, if you get parking, like, 3 blocks away, who's gonna wanna come in January…? The only recourse we had is to find a buyer that's doing just an office building, because then the parking is not required.” (Property owner)

Board members and staff discussed possible short-term options: contacting adjacent lot owners, exploring a gated lot behind the building for a lease or sublease, and identifying an empty lot north of the site whose owner could be contacted. The board also reminded the owner that any purchaser must be made aware of the demolition order on the property.

Formal action: the board approved a motion to set an internal status update on the panels for Oct. 9 and a planning-status hearing for Oct. 23. The motion was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.

The board said it would accept a longer interval if owners needed it, but expressed a deadline-oriented posture: “we've been more than patient with this situation…at some point, we have to draw the line in the sand and say that we need something.” The owner told the board he will continue to explore parking and other options and will return on Oct. 23 if he has further progress.

Background: The board noted the property remains listed for demolition and that prior environmental findings raised concerns about mold and water intrusion in the basement. The Oct. 9 internal status will focus on the remaining safety panels; Oct. 23 will be a planning-focused update on redevelopment progress and potential parking solutions.