HAMMOND | Despite some remaining hurdles, developers of a new downtown charter school hope to begin construction within the next few weeks.
The Hammond Urban Academy Inc., a nonprofit formed in 2007 to operate the planned school, unveiled its proposal for the $15 million facility Tuesday night to the Hammond Redevelopment Commission.
Since 1999, the commission has owned a block-square parcel at Muenich Court and Ann Avenue -- home to the century-old Hammond Masonic Temple until its demolition this summer -- where developers want to build the charter.
The HUA offer of $10,000 in cash and "in excess of" $135,000 in streetscape, landscaping and infrastructure improvements to the property in exchange for ownership was taken under advisement by commissioners.
Chartered through Ball State University, the Hammond Academy for Science and Technology is scheduled to open in August.
Developers are finalizing financial terms for the academy, said Tom Dabertin, secretary of the HUA board, but about $10 million of construction costs will be covered through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with another $5 million raised through other nontaxable bonds.
"We're looking at a groundbreaking very, very soon," Dabertin said.
A principal for the new school has been selected after a nationwide search, said Owana Miller, city community development director and HUA board member.
The candidate will be announced at a public meeting on Nov. 16 at Purdue University Calumet, Miller said, the first of three meetings planned to introduce the school to the community.
A lottery for the estimated 320 student positions available in the school's first year will be held in December, Miller said.
But developers first need a conditional use permit for the facility from the Board of Zoning Appeals, said David Westland, attorney to the Redevelopment Commission.
And conditional use permits, even if given a favorable ruling from the BZA, then must be approved by the City Council.
In addition, the charter school's location inside an urban renewal area requires that the city's downtown redevelopment plan be amended to include provisions for a school, Westland said.
Phil Taillon, executive director of planning and development, said his office is helping developers with the details because the sale of the property can't be closed without BZA approval, but the BZA generally requires that a property be fully owned before considering a conditional use permit.
"We don't want to stall the process," Taillon said.
The HUA also is working with the Hammond Development Corp., Taillon said, which holds options on property surrounding the school site that could be used for parking areas and other facilities.
The Redevelopment Commission paid $391,000 in August for demolition of the Hammond Masonic Temple, which was built in 1907.
