UPDATE: During the Hammond City Council meeting 11/22/2021, Mayor Thomas McDermott announced that he has heard our voices and that he is reversing course on the plan to convert Forsythe Square from public green space to a multi-unit development site. The mayor recognized the significance and value of Forsythe Square to Robertsdale residents and went one step further; he is reclassifying Forsythe Square as a an official public park, which will prevent any conversion of the land and real estate development in the future. Thank you to all the passionate residents who signed your names and made your voices heard on this issue! Thank you also to Mayor Thomas McDermott who has shown that he is willing to listen and create a positive and collaborative working relationship with Robertsdale residents.
PLEASE READ LATEST NEWS: https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hammond/w...
_______________________________________________________________________
Robertsdale residents object to the action taken by the Hammond City Council on 10/25/21 and 11/8/21, vacating a 22690 square foot portion of the real estate commonly known as 1900 Forsythe Square from dedicated public right-of-way to a separate parcel to be used for a multi-unit real estate development project. This action was taken in the form of Ordinance 9529, (21-43) passed 11/8/21, sponsored by councilwoman Janet Venecz, passed by unanimous Hammond City Council vote, and signed by Mayor Thomas McDermott 11/11/21.
1900 Forsythe Square is a valuable dedicated public right-of-way space that has been utilized and enjoyed by Robertsdale and Hammond residents for generations. A multi-unit or multi-building real estate development on this site would create visual and physical congestion on the surrounding narrow streets, create a shortage of parking spaces on the surrounding narrow streets, and negatively impact the property values of the existing residential real estate adjacent to 1900 Forsythe Square. A real estate development on this site would also deprive the community of continued use and enjoyment of valuable green space near Wolf Lake.
We, the undersigned, are concerned Robertsdale citizens who urge our leaders to act now to repeal Ordinance 9529, preserve the total square footage of 1900 Forsythe Square as a dedicated public right-of-way, and halt all proposed real estate development on the site.
HAMMOND CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Monday, 11-22-21, 6:00pm, Hammond City Hall. Livestream: https://www.gohammond.tv/live/ and https://www.facebook.com/GoHammondIN Make your voices heard!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
November 22, 2021
November 22, 2021
The momentum surrounding our effort to protect Forsythe Square has reached a level that commands attention from local leadership. This collective focus ensures that the preservation of our public green space remains a priority for the community.
Reached 100 supporters
November 20, 2021
97 Comments
Our children and neighbors use this spot to play games, watch the fireworks, listen to concerts from Wolf Lake, please do not take that from us residents!
This section of the city has already become too crowded. There are apartment buildings on two of the four corners. 119th Street is the only entrance to Forsythe Park. There is no parking. This IS NOT improving Hammond.
I live directly at the corner of this lot and enjoyed many good childhood experiences playing in that lot. It would be shameful to take that away from children and adults who enjoy it for recreation.
I grew up in this neighborhood and remember playing here as a kid. Water Gardens is unique and beautiful. Multi-unit housing crammed onto this site is NOT a good plan. City Council should be working FOR the residents and engage in meaningful COMMUNICATION with residents who will be impacted before taking actions like this.
We would like to see a blue print of the plans and be provided opportunity (with Mayor McDermott present) to discuss with tax payers why they would focus on the square and not Clark School on 119th 2 blocks East of the Square that was recently purchased by the City of Hammond.
I want Forsythe Square to stay Public Right-of-way
I want Forsythe to stay public right-of-way Green Space!
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
UPDATE: During the Hammond City Council meeting 11/22/2021, Mayor Thomas McDermott announced that he has heard our voices and that he is reversing course on the plan to convert Forsythe Square from public green space to a multi-unit development site. The mayor recognized the significance and value of Forsythe Square to Robertsdale residents and went one step further; he is reclassifying Forsythe Square as a an official public park, which will prevent any conversion of the land and real estate development in the future. Thank you to all the passionate residents who signed your names and made your voices heard on this issue! Thank you also to Mayor Thomas McDermott who has shown that he is willing to listen and create a positive and collaborative working relationship with Robertsdale residents.
PLEASE READ LATEST NEWS: https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hammond/w...
_______________________________________________________________________
Robertsdale residents object to the action taken by the Hammond City Council on 10/25/21 and 11/8/21, vacating a 22690 square foot portion of the real estate commonly known as 1900 Forsythe Square from dedicated public right-of-way to a separate parcel to be used for a multi-unit real estate development project. This action was taken in the form of Ordinance 9529, (21-43) passed 11/8/21, sponsored by councilwoman Janet Venecz, passed by unanimous Hammond City Council vote, and signed by Mayor Thomas McDermott 11/11/21.
1900 Forsythe Square is a valuable dedicated public right-of-way space that has been utilized and enjoyed by Robertsdale and Hammond residents for generations. A multi-unit or multi-building real estate development on this site would create visual and physical congestion on the surrounding narrow streets, create a shortage of parking spaces on the surrounding narrow streets, and negatively impact the property values of the existing residential real estate adjacent to 1900 Forsythe Square. A real estate development on this site would also deprive the community of continued use and enjoyment of valuable green space near Wolf Lake.
We, the undersigned, are concerned Robertsdale citizens who urge our leaders to act now to repeal Ordinance 9529, preserve the total square footage of 1900 Forsythe Square as a dedicated public right-of-way, and halt all proposed real estate development on the site.
HAMMOND CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Monday, 11-22-21, 6:00pm, Hammond City Hall. Livestream: https://www.gohammond.tv/live/ and https://www.facebook.com/GoHammondIN Make your voices heard!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
November 22, 2021
November 22, 2021
The momentum surrounding our effort to protect Forsythe Square has reached a level that commands attention from local leadership. This collective focus ensures that the preservation of our public green space remains a priority for the community.
Reached 100 supporters
November 20, 2021
97 Comments
As a Hammond resident and Franklin elementary teacher I strongly oppose this project. The water gardens is a very unique and desirable neighborhood. New housing is going up 1/2 a mile away at the former football field.
Our children and neighbors use this spot to play games, watch the fireworks, listen to concerts from Wolf Lake, please do not take that from us residents!
This section of the city has already become too crowded. There are apartment buildings on two of the four corners. 119th Street is the only entrance to Forsythe Park. There is no parking. This IS NOT improving Hammond.
I live directly at the corner of this lot and enjoyed many good childhood experiences playing in that lot. It would be shameful to take that away from children and adults who enjoy it for recreation.
I grew up in this neighborhood and remember playing here as a kid. Water Gardens is unique and beautiful. Multi-unit housing crammed onto this site is NOT a good plan. City Council should be working FOR the residents and engage in meaningful COMMUNICATION with residents who will be impacted before taking actions like this.
We would like to see a blue print of the plans and be provided opportunity (with Mayor McDermott present) to discuss with tax payers why they would focus on the square and not Clark School on 119th 2 blocks East of the Square that was recently purchased by the City of Hammond.
I want Forsythe Square to stay Public Right-of-way
I want Forsythe to stay public right-of-way Green Space!
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 500 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
As a Hammond resident and Franklin elementary teacher I strongly oppose this project. The water gardens is a very unique and desirable neighborhood. New housing is going up 1/2 a mile away at the former football field.