Hammond Delays Demolition Hearing for Clark High School

The Board of Public Works and Safety pushed back the hearing to allow for further preparation by city and school officials.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Secondary Education

Hammond Delays Demolition Hearing for Clark High School

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The Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety has postponed a scheduled demolition hearing for the former George Rogers Clark High School. The city and the School City of Hammond requested more time to prepare for the proceeding.

Why it matters

The administration aims to demolish the vacant school building at 1921 Davis St. to address local blight. The district previously closed the school following the 2020-21 academic year to manage a budget deficit that risked a state takeover.

State law requires the school district to offer properties to charter schools for a $1 fee prior to demolition. The site of the proposed demolition is the former high school located at 1921 Davis St.

The players

Thomas McDermott Jr.

He serves as the Mayor of Hammond and has been involved in public discussions regarding the city's demolition strategy.

Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety

This local government body is responsible for overseeing city infrastructure, building safety, and the official hearing process for demolition requests.

School City of Hammond

This is the local public school district responsible for managing school facilities, including the closure and disposal of former educational properties.

The details

The city and school district are also currently involved in litigation regarding the separate demolition of Donald E. Gavit High School. Officials must comply with the Indiana Unsafe Building Law and provide notification to the Indiana Department of Education before proceeding with school demolitions.

The School City of Hammond closed Clark High School at the end of the 2020-21 school year.
Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. discussed demolition plans in September 2026.
The Hammond Board of Public Works held its meeting on October 22, 2026.
The demolition hearing may return to the board in November or December 2026.

Culture Shift

The city is operating under the guidelines of the Indiana Unsafe Building Law to address aging infrastructure and urban blight. This process follows a pattern set by previous local efforts to manage vacant properties through state-mandated legal frameworks.

Residents living near the former high school at 1921 Davis St. will see the building remain standing while city and school officials finalize their preparation. The delay provides additional time for potential public input before the legal process for demolition moves forward.

The takeaway

The postponement highlights the complex legal and regulatory steps required for municipalities to repurpose or remove former public school buildings. Local stakeholders should monitor the board agenda as the hearing date approaches later this year.