Mayor says demolition orders will move forward if school district won’t plan reuse of vacant Hammond high schools

Mayor told the Hammond Common Council on April 27 that the city will pursue demolition orders for two long-vacant high school buildings unless the school city presents a reuse plan.

The mayor said the city set a March 31 deadline for the school city to report plans for Hammond Clark High School and Hammond Gabbitt High School and that no plan had been received. "We gave the school city Hammond in mid February a deadline of... March 31 for them to get back to us with a plan. They didn't get back to us at all, so they have no plan at all," he said.

The mayor described conditions inside the buildings as unsafe: no electricity or water, broken windows and loitering, and he warned that ignoring the problem risks crime and arson at vacant properties. He told the council, "We're issuing demolition orders immediately. We're marching forward." He also said the city may face litigation if the district objects and noted the state law process that can require offering vacant buildings for charter-school bids.

Councilmembers expressed support for a proactive approach to address community safety and blight. One councilmember said residents around the Gabbard area had urged the council to take action and welcomed the mayor's stance. The mayor said the city is prepared to pursue demolition after other remedies were exhausted and suggested voters consider school board candidates’ positions on vacant buildings in upcoming elections.

Context and next steps: The mayor framed demolition as a last-resort enforcement of building code and state procedures after the school district failed to present a plan. The city expects possible litigation if formal demolition orders are issued; staff indicated a process and timeline could take months as legal and procedural steps are completed.