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Redevelopment commission approves North Hammond boundary expansion after public hearing; residents seek clarity on impacts
Summary
After a public hearing, the Hammond Redevelopment Commission approved a confirmatory resolution expanding the North Hammond redevelopment area and adding the 2025 expansion to the West Point allocation area for TIF; property owners asked whether inclusion could lead to eminent domain and requested clearer boundary information.
The Hammond Redevelopment Commission on March 17 approved resolution 2026-03, a confirmatory resolution adopting declaratory resolution 2025-18 to modify the boundaries of the North Hammond development area and designate the 2025 expansion area as part of the West Point allocation area for tax-increment financing. Commissioner Tomich moved the resolution; it passed on a 5-0 roll-call vote.
The resolution expands the redevelopment boundaries but does not itself enact grant programs or frontage-improvement incentives, city attorney David Westling told the hearing. "This is an expansion of the redevelopment area, and it allows the commission and the city with various tools for redevelopment," Westling said, adding that "this resolution doesn't enact those programs." Several property owners asked for clearer information about boundaries and possible effects.
Owners and representatives at the podium said notices left recipients uncertain about which parcels were affected. "We got this letter, but we can't seem to find any details on what it is," said Tracy Helfrich, who identified herself as owner of 4545 Ash Avenue (Simpay LLC). Mark Kalwinski, speaking for the Hammond Mohawks, read a list of questions submitted by the Mohawks' leadership, including "why was the Hammond Mohawk property included in the designated redevelopment area?" and whether the city planned eminent-domain action.
Attorney Westling replied that he was unaware of any plans to take Mohawks' property by eminent domain and that no properties are currently listed as targets for acquisition. "I have I'm unaware of any plans to take the Mohawk property through eminent domain," he said. Staff also explained the parcel was included because it abuts the existing North Hammond development area and the expansion must be contiguous.
Commission staff agreed to include written correspondences — including letters from David Kubacki and an email from Frank Ruggeri asking about impacts on Aurelio's Pizza at 4226 Calumet Avenue — in the official record. The record will also include the public comments requesting that staff contact affected property owners to reduce concern. The commission's motion approved the expansion pursuant to Indiana Code 36-7-14 and related administrative rules.
Next steps: the expansion enables the commission to consider specific incentive programs and tools in future actions; those programs would require separate deliberation and formal enactment before benefits or restrictions take effect.
