Owner of fire‑damaged Kennedy Avenue structure given 60‑day review after board requests interior inspection

The Hammond City Board of Public Works and Safety on Feb. 5 set a status check for April 2, 2026, for an appurtenant garage at 6102–6104 Kennedy Avenue after owner Amanda Gallardo described plans to seek financing and begin rehabilitation this year.

Attorney Smith, speaking for the city, recapped that the property first came before the board Aug. 7 as a potential demolition and that the board had previously declined to enter a demolition order. He said inspectors have documented ongoing concerns about the garage’s condition and recommended a short follow‑up timeline if substantive progress is not shown.

Gallardo, who identified herself as the owner, said she and her team have invested “over 200,000” in the nearby Chuck & Irene’s building and that the garage was included in the purchase as an “extra” after a prior fire. “The inside of this building is charred,” she said, and described work that remains: “siding, flooring, electrical, plumbing, roofing. That’s probably over a $300,000 project.” She said her priority was completing the bar and hotel rehab to secure financing for the garage project and that she planned to pull permits and begin work this year.

Board members said they were inclined to allow more time because of the rehabilitation of the main building, but they emphasized the need for an interior inspection and for evidence of progress. A member asked Jordan, the city’s building official, to inspect the garage interior to determine the scope of structural and fire damage and to document what work would be required under code. The board said Jordan’s report would help Gallardo obtain contractor quotes and financing.

Members also advised Gallardo to consult planning staff before committing to uses she had mentioned — including a rear car wash and a front event space — because those uses may require conditional uses or other zoning approvals. The board asked that Jordan’s inspection take place with Gallardo’s concurrence and set a status hearing for April 2 to review the inspector’s findings and any financing progress. If, at that point, the board judged the property had not advanced toward remediation, members said they would consider entering a demolition order to keep the process moving.

The board also asked Gallardo to clean debris and vehicles visible from the street to improve safety and neighborhood appearance. Gallardo agreed to provide a date of the original fire and to coordinate inspection access with Jordan.

The board’s action was procedural: it did not order demolition at the Feb. 5 meeting and instead directed an interior inspection and a 60‑day status check.