The Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety on Nov. 20 authorized emergency abatement work at 911 Bauer Street and set a series of status hearings for multiple properties under rehab or demolition orders.

Staff told the board that, under Indiana Code 36-7-9-9, the city may proceed under the emergency portion of the Unsafe Building Act to abate hazardous conditions at 911 Bauer. The department reported contractor estimates were being gathered; one emailed estimate received at the hearing was $8,500. Staff said the emergency authority covers clearance of debris and nuisance abatement but does not address the garage, which will require a separate process. Board members asked staff and contractors to preserve a century-old pine tree and a brick paver path where feasible.

A contractor representative said they had "no intentions of getting any trees down" and were coordinating to save features where practical. The board authorized the emergency repair authority and set a status update for Dec. 4, 2025.

The board also approved rescission of demolition orders for two properties — 1037 Ames Street and 1152 Roosevelt — after staff reviewed rehabilitation photos showing completion. In separate status hearings the board set dates to monitor progress at multiple addresses: 4934 Ash (status set for Jan. 29, 2026), 7415 Montana (status set), 51 Webb (status set for Dec. 4, 2025 with an order to appear), 2104 Sherman (status set for Dec. 11, 2025; owner on Zoom reported electrical and plumbing nearly complete), 944 Murray (status set for Dec. 18, 2025), Pioneer Tap on Kennedy Avenue (status set for Jan. 15, 2026) and a commercial property at 5217 (board discussed potential buyers and pending bids; status to be updated Dec. 18 and Jan. 15 as applicable).

Where owners told the board they had pulled permits and begun work, inspectors reported specific progress: framing and insulation inspections completed for one property and electrical service passed on Nov. 4 for another. For properties where inspections remain outstanding, the board set near-term status dates and directed owners to secure inspections and remedial work.

Next steps: staff will obtain final contractor estimates for the emergency abatement, proceed under the emergency provision if appropriate, and return to the board on the scheduled status dates to report progress.