The directors of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority on Thursday unanimously approved spending $2.08 million to secure and demolish the lead-impacted West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago. Staff photo by Dan Carden
INDIANAPOLIS — The directors of the state housing agency unanimously agreed Thursday to contribute $2.08 million for the security and demolition of the lead-affected West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago.
The money will be provided to the Managed East Chicago Housing Authority, the nonprofit development arm of the East Chicago Housing Authority, which plans to secure the 346-unit community after the remaining residents depart on or before April 3.
"Once they have each been safely relocated, these funds will go toward boarding up windows and doors, securing the property and demolition once it can begin," said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, chairwoman of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority board.
The agency projects that demolition will be completed by Sept. 28.
However, any timeline for redevelopment largely depends on the speed at which lead-contaminated soil and water pipes on the property, and adjacent lands also formerly occupied by lead manufacturing operations, can be removed or remediated.
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb last month declared the USS Lead Superfund site in East Chicago, which includes the West Calumet Housing Complex, a state disaster emergency.
He directed all state agencies to assist area residents with relocation and to speed demolition of the complex.
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