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player ready...New construction of homes in Hammond is a big deal.
Most of the homes were built in 1951 or earlier, city officials said, which is why the Parrish View subdivision in the Hessville section is a great asset. Parrish View was an overgrown city-owned lot until about 10 years ago when the first new homes were built in the subdivision at 171st Street just east of Parrish Avenue.
The project called for 28 homes to be built around a central 1-acre park. The city enlisted the help of United Neighborhoods Inc. to raise funds to build the homes and act as the developer.
“Now we are nearing the end,” said Dennis Radowski, executive director of UNI.
Only four lots remain, including one that has a model home currently being constructed. Lots sell for $16,000 and buyers assume the cost of the construction of the homes, which average between $200,000 and $220,000. Once a home is sold the proceeds go into building another.
“These things sell themselves,” Radowski said. “It’s an opportunity for people who like living in Hammond to go the next step and increase the size of their house without having to move to another community.”
Africa Tarver, executive director of planning and development for Hammond, said Parrish View means the city has a housing stock that accommodates families who are interested in larger, new construction homes.
“We are an older community with an older housing stock so this is a nice addition to the Hammond area,” she said. “We see now there is a need in the city and we want to meet that need.”
Radowski said plans are in the works for similar developments on vacant land in the city.
Rob Earnshaw is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.