Overview

The Downtown Hammond Train Station and Square will be a bustling area for people traveling in and out of Northwest Indiana. The train station has already attracted three residential developers, with over 350 new market-rate apartments. This means population growth, increased retail, and a larger tax base. The square will be a gathering spot for these residents, spurring instant economic development and amenities, vital to the increased population. Funding sources will come from the City of Hammond’s Downtown Urban Renewal Area TIF, Hammond Technology Park Grant, and Mayor’s Gaming Funds. The READI dollars will be spent on the design and construction of the platform station and square around it, which includes but is not limited to sidewalks, a new road for better conductivity, site prep, green space design, and build-out, and all the utilities associated with both projects. The timeline for spending the READI dollars will be late 2022, early 2023 to the end of the year 2026The intended outcome of these expenditures will result in a new platform station, creating ease of access to Chicago and the surrounding Region communities, and vibrant public space. For this project, the City will take advantage of this opportunity to some energy efficiency initiatives such as LED lighting, permeable pavers, and drought-resistant plantings. The station will have a positive impact on climate change by getting people out of their cars, cars off the road, and people on the train.