Redevelopment commission expands North Hammond allocation and approves first Jacob Square residential program

The Hammond Redevelopment Commission on March 17, 2026 approved a confirmatory resolution expanding the North Hammond redevelopment area and, separately, approved the city’s first Jacob Square residential housing development allocation area, after public comment and staff explanations.

At a public hearing on the North Hammond amendment, property owners said they had received notice but not enough detail about the boundaries or programs that might follow. "We got this letter, but we can't seem to find any details on what it is, so we couldn't even ask questions or comments," said Tracy Halfrisch, who gave her address as 4545 Ash Avenue and said she represents Sympa LLC.

Councilman Mark Kalwinski read a list of questions submitted by David Kubacki on behalf of the Hammond Mohawks, asking, among other things, why the Mohawks' property north of 141st Street had been included while other adjacent parcels were not and whether the city planned to use eminent domain. Kalwinski said the Mohawks wanted clarity before deciding whether the expansion would be beneficial.

City staff and counsel responded that the Mohawks parcel was included because it abuts the existing North Hammond development area and the proposed expansion extends south along the Calumet Avenue corridor. Counsel also said the resolution itself does not enact any assistance programs. "There are no properties listed on the list of properties to be acquired," a city representative said when asked about eminent domain, indicating no property acquisitions are planned at this time.

After the hearing, the commission considered and approved Resolution 2026-03, which adopts Declaratory Resolution 2025-18 modifying the North Hammond development area and designating the 2025 expansion as part of the West Point allocation area for tax increment financing under Indiana Code 36-7-14 and 50 IAC 8. The motion was made by Commissioner Tolman and seconded by Commissioner Mosley-Shelton; the roll call vote was 5–0 in favor.

The commission also opened a brief public hearing on the Jacob Square residential housing development program (Declaratory Resolution 2025-19), described by staff as establishing the city's first residential allocation area intended to support infill housing and related street or infrastructure improvements. That confirmatory resolution (2026-04) was approved by a 5–0 roll call vote after a motion by Commissioner Tolman and second by Commissioner Kubacki.

Why it matters: expanding an allocation area enables the city to capture future increases in assessed value inside the boundaries and direct those incremental tax receipts to programs or infrastructure in the area. The March 17 resolutions only change the allocation boundaries; specific programs, grants or frontage-improvement projects would be proposed and deliberated by the commission at future meetings.

Next steps: Staff said property owners in the expanded areas will be eligible to apply for future redevelopment programs if and when the commission establishes them. Commissioners and staff encouraged property owners and organizations (including the Hammond Mohawks) to contact city staff for follow-up questions and clarification.