Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. joined the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce on January 20 to host his annual State of the City address, discussing the city’s outlook and plans for future developments.
The mayor gave his address at Dynasty Banquets before a crowd of community members, business leaders, educators, and others. McDermott and Lakeshore Chamber made a tradition out of a somewhat unorthodox approach to the State of the City, which they continued on Thursday. Rather than read out a prepared speech, McDermott fielded questions prepared and collected by Lakeshore Chamber Executive Director Dave Ryan.
“I look at this more like a mayor’s night out,” McDermott said. “We call it State of the City but normally those are more stiff, reading from a speech with pomp and circumstance. This is just Dave and I talking.”
Among the earliest topics addressed was the ongoing transformation of downtown Hammond. McDermott stressed that the downtown area is set to look and operate completely differently over the coming years, driven largely by the upcoming rail project set to bridge between Hammond and Dyer.
“The South Shore Line, the federal government, the RDA, and all of us locals are investing close to a billion dollars for a stretch of railroad,” McDermott said. “A billion dollars. It’s going to completely change the way that area looks. 30 or 40 years from now, it’s going to look a lot more like Chicago. There are skeptics... but I suggest we pull together, and that’s what I’m trying to do. It’s going to be transformational and I hope it’s for the better.”
McDermott also discussed how recent investments into the city are coming to fruition, quickly, in some cases. Rimbach Plaza, a $24 million investment is set to break ground this year, bringing 208 new units, 6,600 square feet of new retail space, and a public plaza. Also on the horizon is Madison Lofts, a five-story building made from a $15 million investment by a business that moved to Indiana from Chicago.
“[The business owner] moved his business to Hammond,” McDermott said. “He’s a believer in Indiana and what we’re doing here. He’s saving tens of thousands a month in taxes. He’s a converted Hoosier who believes in our city and believes in the vision for downtown Hammond.”
The year also saw big strides for education around the city, such as the brand new Hammond Central High School and the growth of athletic programs like those at Purdue University Northwest.
“I love the new high school. I think the School City’s done an excellent job,” McDermott said. “An urban city built a brand new $100 million high school. That does not happen in Indiana very often. It’s something to be proud of and I’m excited for the future.”
One high school student in attendance posed a question to the mayor – how does the city plan to address train crossings halting traffic? The crossing on or in Calumet Ave., Hohman Ave., and Hessville often lead to massive delays that leave both students and workers exasperated and late. McDermott explained that the city is in the process of building a bridge, called Governor’s Parkway, over the train tracks in Hessville, using a grant that is paying for 75 percent of the project.
“This is so important for our city,” he said. “I would be negligent as a mayor if I didn’t take care of this problem – it’s the number one complaint I’ve received over the years.”
To learn more about the City of Hammond, visit www.gohammond.com. To view the State of the City Address in its entirety, visit www.facebook.com/GoHammondIN/.
