Planning for the Future of Small Towns

Can small towns be saved through forward-thinking masterplans?  Hammond, Indiana is betting on it.

Located just outside Chicago, this suburb recently embarked on a major overhaul of their downtown which proposes a mix of residential and commercial uses to create a pleasant and varied environment. 

 Alongside this, the proposal features a complete reconfiguration of the existing street grid and the construction of a new commuter rail station that will connect Hammond to Chicago within 40 minutes.

 In a further step to remove its current car-centric design, the masterplan proposes the conversion of a four-lane highway on Hohman Avenue into a “drivable-plaza”, with two vehicular lanes, a shared bike lane, street parking, and angled parking.

 This re-design will also help configure the new public space, Station Square, which will be surrounded by mixed-use development.

 The masterplan proposes nearly 400 market-rate housing units alongside 1,000 attainably priced units within a walkable neighborhood.  Notably, the masterplan also proposes new form-based development standards, as well as the adaptive re-use of the downtown’s historic buildings.

 This masterplan provides an excellent example of urban design that balances a mix of uses with parking, public transportation, and historic preservation.

 DLBP is intrigued to see how the completion of Hammond, Indiana’s masterplan will influence Hammond’s downtown, and future downtown designs elsewhere.