East Chicago residents want more time to comment on demolition

East Chicago, Ind., residents again are pushing for more oversight in the cleanup efforts at the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site, as plans are being circulated on the demolition of the West Calumet Housing Complex.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is now seeking public comments on the plans for the demolition of the West Calumet Housing Complex, but residents think the federal agency should grant more time for input and hold a public hearing.

"Again, we have something that came out with no community input," said the Rev. Cheryl Rivera, a member of the Community Strategy Group and director of the Northwest Indiana Federation of Interfaith Organizations.

People are concerned about what impact the demolition might have on the neighborhood because of dust or water runoff, Rivera said, and what protections are in place for workers taking the complex down. Rivera said everyone knows how contaminated the soil is and want to limit any additional exposure.

"We were very concerned," Rivera said.

A notice issued May 26 by HUD said the demolition of the complex would have "no significant impact on the human environment." The determination from HUD came after an application submitted by the East Chicago Housing Authority detailed the need for demolition to protect human health because of the lead and arsenic contamination found in the soil around the public housing complex.

East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland said in May the city asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean the site of the West Calumet Housing Complex to residential standards once demolition is completed. The mayor said once the site is cleaned to residential standards, the city will begin seeking input on potential future uses of the land.

The demolition plan will remove all residential and non-residential structures, foundations, pavement and sidewalks, according to a notice from HUD. The federal housing agency said the cost of the demolition will be around $6.8 million.

An attorney for the East Chicago Housing Authority did not respond to a request for comment.

"We're being left out of the formula," said Martiza Lopez, a leader of the East Chicago Calumet Coalition and We the People of East Chicago, but residents are the primary stakeholders in these decisions.

Sam Henderson, an attorney with the Hoosier Environmental Council, said there are two possible outcomes from the residents' perspective: trying to get HUD to recognize the potential environmental impact of the demolition or push for the remedial action plan to change to manage fugitive dust and groundwater runoff.

Henderson said people want more time to submit comments and are asking for a public hearing on the plans.

"My concern is about the process," said Thomas Frank, a member of the Community Strategy Group. He said he thinks the housing authority should have a public hearing and present the plans.

Residents and interested parties have until June 13 to submit written comments to HUD.

"At this point, we don't expect that HUD will grant the extension," Henderson said.

Copeland, last July, sent a letter to residents of the West Calumet Housing Complex saying that because of elevated levels of lead and arsenic in the soil, they should move out of the complex.

Residents can't stop the complex from coming down, Rivera said.

"Now, it's how it's coming down," Rivera said.

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Affordable housing Compliance HUD Indiana
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