HAMMOND | Preparations to remove a decommissioned south side school to make room for a new youth sports complex are expected to begin next week.
The Board of Public Works and Safety awarded a contract Thursday to demolish the former Caldwell Elementary School at 3105 173rd Street to Dore & Associates Construction, Inc., of Bay City, Mich.
The firm offered a low bid of $434,000 for the job, said officials with Hammond engineering consultant DLZ Indiana, LLC. Dore previously was hired by the city in 2006 for the $2 million demolition of the River Park Apartments complex at 177th Street and Kennedy Avenue.
DLZ Indiana is currently designing the new sports complex, which Hammond officials hope to have ready for next spring's baseball season.
Plans call for three ball fields -- one baseball, one softball, and one multipurpose space which can be configured for different games -- and a state-of-the-art playground area for younger children.
Parking areas, lighting for night games, permanent concession stands and a press box are included in preliminary plans for the complex.
