HAMMOND | Weather conditions at Wolf Lake make the site unsuitable for placement of a near-full-sized replica of the Statue of Liberty, according to a structural engineer hired by the city.

The biggest issue is the wind, followed by year-round exposure to ultraviolet light, Don Corson, of Indianapolis-based American Structurepoint, told the Redevelopment Commission on Tuesday night.

Commissioners wanted to know if the 130-foot, 50,000 pound resin-coated foam replica -- created by a Griffith printing company for an indoor trade convention in July -- could endure as a permanent monument on an island in the far north side natural lake.

"The statue is truly a remarkable work of art," Corson said, "But it is just that -- a work of art."

Not only is its high-tech coating unsuitable for year-round exterior installation, Corson said, but steel bars holding the 377 pieces together were designed for craftsmanship, not engineering, and would all have to be replaced.

"There are a lot of technical challenges for outdoor display," Corson said. "To convert it into a permanent attraction would require a significant investment of resources."

But the issue of putting the statue outside isn't dead, said Marty Wielgos, Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.'s chief of staff, it's just that right now is not the time.

Instead, Wielgos said a portion of the Lady Liberty replica -- perhaps as much as 97 feet of it -- could be erected inside the Indiana Welcome Center on Kennedy Avenue at the Borman Expressway.

The statue could be displayed during July, a popular month for the naturalization ceremonies of new citizens, Wielgos said, and around Sept. 17, the federal holiday of Citizenship Day.

"The investment in the statue and the engineering study have paid off," Wielgos said. "We've come up with a good plan so people can see it and enjoy it."

Wielgos said parts of the statue, currently stored in Hammond inside a city-owned warehouse, could also be used in various parades over the summer months.

If the creator of the statue, Frank Brummett, owner of Beryl Martin Co. in Griffith, isn't satisfied with the uses planned for it, the city would be more than happy to return the 25-ton artwork, Wielgos said.