HAMMOND GATEWAY A dual-station area with infrastructure improvements, downtown synergy, and the construction of the West Lake Corridor could see new opportunities for mixed-use, infill, and neighborhood development. Introduction The Hammond Gateway TDD is unique in its opportunities due to its designation as a major station for both NICTD lines, its proximity to the State Line, developable property available by South Shore Double Track and West Lake Corridor, and Chicago Street/Gostlin Street realignment (construction in process). By looking at the immediate area around the station and downtown together, there is an opportunity to connect future development at the Gateway Station to a more active downtown with a future West Lake Station. There is an opportunity to focus transit-oriented development (TOD) around the station area and downtown to help stabilize walkable single-family neighborhoods within the TDD. Environmental barriers exist, but much of the industrial land use will remain. The city is proactive with a successful plan that focuses on revitalizing downtown and positioning it for a future downtown West Lake Station and TOD, which sends a positive message to the development community. Furthermore, capital planning will be needed to identify development-enabling infrastructure. The tremendous potential for this station area could prompt corridor plans and updates to land use and zoning to enable development. City Economic Goals: • Leverage the station’s location along both the South Shore and West Lake Lines to become an employment destination second to Downtown Hammond • Create long-term development sites for housing, office, or research/flex uses on station parking lots and vacant land near the station area • Link the Gateway Station area to Downtown Hammond with bicycle, pedestrian, and transit connections • Create a thriving downtown neighborhood through increased supply of housing in the city core
12 • Northwest Indiana Transit Development Districts
Station Area | County Comparison
Population Change
• Transform Hohman Avenue corridor into a signature boulevard and a focal point for mixed-use and multi-family development, adaptive reuse, and infill projects • Improve connectivity and roadway safety around the station and downtown through lane restriping, landscaping enhancements, and intersection improvements • Create signature public spaces framed by new development Relevant Planning: RDA TDD boundaries (ongoing), Downtown Hammond Master Plan (2019), West Lake TOD Plan (2017), NWIN RDA Comprehensive Strategic Plan (2016), Zoning Ordinance (2003 as amended), North Hammond Neighborhood Plan (2003), and Comprehensive Plan (1992) Zoning Ordinance Review: The ordinance dated 2003 but amended subsequently is an older style text ordinance that does not contemplate TOD in the vicinity of the Hammond Gateway or downtown area. This ordinance includes provisions for permitted and conditional uses in the Central Business District that are not supportive of the 2019 Downtown Hammond Master Plan produced by Jeff Speck and Associates. The area in the vicinity of Hammond Gateway is zoned as a mix of corridor commercial, industrial/manufacturing, and residential. The ordinance currently has several overlays so the notion of a character-based overlay for the TDD area could fit within the construct of their existing code.
Downtown Hammond Master Plan (2019)
Public Engagement: To kick off the study of the Hammond Gateway TDD station areas, a community bus tour and leadership work session were held in October 2020. An “On-YourOwn Gallery” made information available to the public to access and review throughout June 2021. In June 2021, a hybrid in-person and virtual public engagement session was held via Zoom video conferencing and Facebook Live, and 30 community members attended the session. The session was also posted to YouTube, which received 197 views. Materials from this engagement session were also posted to the project website.
What do you think are the top three economic development opportunities for the future Hammond Gateway station area and TDD?
1
More businesses, restaurants, and things to do
2
Efficient access to the South Shore rail into Chicago
Attracting new people to my community to live, work, and play
Proposed boundary presented to the public with public and community leadership input.
Chicago and Gostlin Street Realignment
West Lake TOD Study (2017)
West Lake Corridor • 13
Station
Residential
Vacant / Underutilized
Flood
Commercial
Publicly-owned
TIF District
Industrial
Previously Planned
Anchors
Agricultural
Areas of Interest
14 • Northwest Indiana Transit Development Districts
Calumet Ave
Sheffield Ave
Hohman Ave
Calumet Ave
Sheffield Ave
Hohman Ave
ILLINOIS INDIANA
Chicago St
Chicago St
Calumet Ave
Sheffield Ave
Hohman Ave
ILLINOIS INDIANA
Gostlin St
Chicago St
Calumet Ave
Sheffield Ave
Gostlin St
City Plans and Areas of Interest
Gostlin St Chicago St
Calumet Ave
Sheffield Ave
Vacant and Publicly-owned
Hohman Ave
City Plans and Areas of Interest Previously planned areas include downtown Hammond; the 2019 Downtown Hammond Master Plan anticipates development occurring alongside a future West Lake Corridor and downtown station. Other previously planned areas include several properties associated with the planned relocation of the existing station currently served by the South Shore Line and opportunities to reuse industrial land for train service and maintenance facilities. Additional areas of interest include other large industrial riverfront properties along the Grand Calumet River.
Gostlin St
Land Use: Community Anchors, Commercial, Residential, and Industrial
ILLINOIS INDIANA
Vacant, Underutilized and Publicly-owned Land A few large industrial areas are vacant or underutilized and have potential for reuse. Vacant or underutilized properties are also found downtown along the anticipated West Lake Corridor alignment and along State Street. There are a few properties that are currently owned by the City of Hammond and the State of Indiana.
Chicago St
Due Diligence: TIF District
Hohman Ave
Land Use Existing land use patterns can inform opportunities for future investment that is compatible and complementary for the community. The impact of the Calumet River floodplain on riverfront properties is minimal. Major community anchors in the Hammond Gateway station area include the First Baptist Church of Hammond, the existing station near Hohman Avenue, the US District Court, the Franciscan Health Hammond campus, and several parks near the Grand Calumet River. Major commercial corridors exist along Hohman Avenue through downtown and near Gostlin Street, Calumet Avenue, and the Historic State Street Commercial District. Residential areas consist of tighter, urban neighborhoods surrounding the major commercial corridors with a few residential blocks around downtown. Several large-footprint industrial areas flank either side of the river and along existing railways, such as the Hammond Sewer Maintenance facility, North Lake Auto Recyclers, and Tortillas Nuevo Leon.
Gostlin St
Due Diligence: Floodplain
ILLINOIS INDIANA
Due Diligence The analysis required for creating the boundary focused on floodplains and flood zones; land use patterns, including community anchors (destinations such as schools, parks, city halls, churches, etc.), commercial areas and corridors, residential neighborhoods near these places of activity, agricultural or preserved land, industrial land, and vacant or underutilized and publicly-owned land; TIF Districts and Opportunity Zone boundaries; and previous planned areas or other areas of interest identified by the city. Locating land uses and destinations in the station area provides a sense of where generators of economic activity, community gathering, and employment opportunities currently exist in the community. Locating vacant or underutilized and publicly-owned land and other areas of interest helps identify sites that may have a low barrier to redevelopment or have already been considered for redevelopment by the city and suggest where future development and investment could occur.
ILLINOIS INDIANA
Boundary Strategy
Calumet Ave
Hohman Ave
Sheffield Ave
Huehn St
Gostlin St 90
Future Hammond Gateway Station
Existing Hammond South Shore Station
Marble St
Hudson St Chicago St
add maintenance yard
NICTD Maintenance and Storage Facility
Hoffman St
INDIANA ILLINOIS
150th St an
dC
al
um
Hoh
ma
nA ve
Gr
et
Ri
ve
r
Turner Park Columbia Park Mic
hig
US Courthouse and Federal Building
an
St
Calumet Ave
Sohl Ave
Douglas St
Hohman Ave
Proposed Hammond Downtown Station
TOTAL ACRES: 314 ACRES
Boundary Summary The resulting TDD boundary for the Hammond Gateway station area focuses on three future investment strategies: Mixed-Use Town Center, Infill Development, and Neighborhoods. Future investment should create focal points of multiple uses and activities around major intersections and station areas. Infill development downtown will capitalize on underutilized parking areas in a way that creates a more complete corridor experience along Hohman Avenue and the future West Lake Corridor. Mixed-use residential buildings and diverse housing types are planned to bring more residents downtown and create a neighborhood feel.
MIXED-USE TOWN CENTER
INFILL NEIGHBORHOODS DEVELOPMENT
West Lake Corridor • 15