Mayor says Hammond remains in talks over potential Bears site and downtown redevelopment; data-center deal faces June 30 deadline

Hammond’s mayor used his June 22 address to report continuing outreach about a possible Chicago Bears stadium, developer interest in downtown sites and an imminent deadline for a proposed data-center agreement.

The mayor said he had spoken with multiple reporters and with the Bears’ lobbyists and public-relations representatives, and that the franchise is evaluating alternative sites. He warned that timing and due diligence remain ongoing: "On June 30th this deal dies," he said, adding later, "I'm not super confident it's going to happen, but if it does we have a deal." The mayor said NIPSCO has indicated readiness on the utility side but other pieces of the transaction remain unresolved.

He also told the council that a group of doctors and investors has expressed interest in redeveloping the old St. Margaret Hospital site in downtown Hammond but that any redevelopment would require a formal request-for-proposals process: they "first have to complete an RFP," he said.

The mayor thanked city staff and volunteers for Juneteenth events and congratulated Capt. Rich Ray on his promotion to patrol captain. He also described internal discussions about potential expansions to the YMCA outlots and a proposed water park, noting some existing leases extend into the 2030s and that the city is balancing lessee rights with redevelopment goals.

What happens next: the mayor said the city will hold the data-center proposal to the council’s June 30 deadline and "figure out our strategy going forward" if the deal does not close. He did not provide a timetable for public announcements from the Bears or developers and emphasized that several proposals remain subject to NDAs and further study.