Hammond City hearing on demolition order for Gabbard High School put under advisement

Hammond City held a demolition hearing July 9, 2026, on a repair‑or‑demolish order for the vacant Gabbard High School under the Indiana Unsafe Building Act (I.C. 36‑7‑9). City inspection staff presented an exterior inspection report and photographs documenting peeling paint, broken bricks and open windows, and introduced a water‑department record indicating the last meter reading on the property was 11/19/2025.

The city’s enforcement authority argued those conditions, together with resident complaints, support a finding the building is blighted and poses public‑safety risks. “We aren’t going to continue to allow continued deterioration,” the city’s legal counsel told the board, urging the board to allow the enforcement process to proceed so owners are motivated to repair or to permit the city to move the process forward if rehabilitation does not occur. Head of inspections Kearney testified he reviewed the inspection report and that the water‑department document supported his concern: “I have great concern. The building has a hook up for water service for fire department, and if there’s no water, there’s no water service,” he said.

The School City of Hammond’s attorney, Jewel Harris, countered that the notice of violation is legally deficient and lacks the specificity required to allow the school city to prepare a substantive response. Harris said the notice cites city code provisions that apply to residential dwellings, omits the underlying state regulations it claims to adopt, and was not accompanied by inspection reports or photographs before the hearing. “How can abatement occur with no knowledge of what the issues are?” Harris asked, urging the board to dismiss the matter or continue it so the school city could review the documents and address cosmetic issues.

City code enforcement witnesses described their investigations as prompted by resident complaints and a subsequent exterior inspection. Inspector Patrick (5th District) testified he observed peeling paint, broken bricks and open windows during an April 15, 2026 exterior inspection and attached photographs to his report. Code enforcement commissioner William Lueder said he personally took photographs on July 8, 2026 that show overgrown weeds, open windows and boarded or patched openings; he testified the combination of access points, exposure to the elements and lack of water service creates conditions that make the property susceptible to greater hazard over time.

School City witnesses disputed the city’s characterization of structural risk. Ted Bryak, acting director of buildings and grounds for the School City of Hammond, testified the items in the inspection report appeared largely cosmetic and that the building has been used intermittently by Hammond police for training. Superintendent Anthony Salinas said the building is vacant but not formally abandoned and said some interior renovations have occurred since 2021; Salinas asked the board for time to finalize pending negotiations and potential private solutions.

Both sides warned of possible costs or consequences. Harris said issuing an order without adequate notice could frustrate pending private deals and impose public cost if the city must pay for demolition; city counsel said issuing an order does not mean immediate demolition but preserves the city’s ability to keep the process moving and, historically, the board has rescinded orders when evidence of rehabilitation is presented.

After hearing testimony and argument, the board took the matter under advisement to review the exhibits and testimony and set a status hearing for July 16, 2026. The board did not enter an order or vote to demolish at the July 9 proceeding.

What happens next: The board will review inspection exhibits and the water‑department document and will reconvene July 16 to issue findings or proceed with next procedural steps. The city indicated that if the School City presents proof of rehabilitation or a binding private plan, the board can rescind or stay the demolition order as has been done in prior cases.