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City finds 929 Middlebury unsafe and authorizes demolition
Summary
City inspectors told the hearing the vacant, fire‑damaged house at 929 Middlebury is an "attractive nuisance" near a park and cemetery; the hearing officer found the building unsafe and authorized city demolition.
Elkhart code officers told the OTA hearing that the vacant house at 929 Middlebury Street is fire‑damaged, repeatedly breached by trespassers and a public nuisance; the hearing officer found the building unsafe and authorized the city to demolish it.
Code inspector Trent Avance testified the property was fire damaged, vacant and had been boarded several times because homeless people had gained inside; he recommended demolition of the house and garage. Avance said the property is near FOP Park and a cemetery and described repeated vandalism and trespass. The building commissioner confirmed personal contact with the owner, who was living in a hotel since the fire.
Hearing officer Thomas Hardman (presiding that item) said, "I'll find then, that the ... building at 929 Middlebury is unsafe on code definition and authorize the city to demolish it at a time of its choosing." The record shows the city had already boarded and inspected the site, and the garage had been demolished previously.
The order authorizes the city to proceed with demolition; the hearing record does not show a compliance agreement being entered for the principal structure.
