Evansville hearing affirms multiple vacate, raise and repair orders; many cases continued for progress

A hearing officer at the Evansville City Building Commission and Housing Court affirmed a string of vacate-and-raise orders and repair orders Tuesday, finding several structures unsafe or blighted and ordering follow-up dates for progress or compliance.

The hearing officer said he would “affirm the request for the raise order and the vacate order for this property,” after reviewing photographs and inspector testimony in a case about a fire-damaged home, a phrase he used repeatedly when upholding orders during the session.

Why it matters: The orders remove hazardous or unsecured structures from the housing stock or require owners to make repairs that the commission determined are necessary to protect neighbors, public safety and nearby schools. Many property owners were given deadlines or returned to the commission for progress reviews in late September or October.

The session covered more than 40 individual cases involving vacant or occupied houses, garages, sheds and multifamily buildings. Inspectors from the Building Commission described repeated inspections, missing permits, evidence of vagrancy or fire damage, and conditions such as collapsing porches, missing roof materials and accumulated trash. Owners and their representatives sometimes presented repair plans, contractor quotes or timelines; in other cases commission staff said no permits or credible repair plans were on file.

Key outcomes (selected): - Vacate-and-raise affirmed: 1110 Reed St.; 1917 Lodge Ave.; 411 E. Michigan St. (fire damage with a reported fatality in 2022); 1916 S. Ferris Ave.; 1414 Cody St.; 912 N. Fourth Ave.; 1210 Harriet St.; 1717 S. New York Ave. (shanty structure). Inspectors cited structural collapse, fire damage, open access to the elements and public-safety risks near schools and churches.

- Raise or repair affirmed for accessory structures: Garages at 3162 Dearborn St., 3201 Kensington Ave. were ordered raised after inspectors reported roof collapse, fire damage and interior trash.

- Repair orders modified or imposed with deadlines: 1421 Parrot St. (vacate affirmed; raise order modified to a repair order with work to be completed within six months and progress review set); 2204 W. Delaware (repair order stayed for a new compliance date and continued to Sept. 25); 407 N. Park Dr., 1143–1163 Covert Ave., 916–918 S. Elliott St., 2426 W. Illinois St., 3316 Austin Ave. and others were continued for progress reviews, typically on Sept. 25 or Oct. 23, 2025.

- Penalties and performance security: The commission put a $500 civil penalty under advisement or imposed it in some cases (for example at 1108 W. Maryland St. the $500 civil penalty was imposed and the matter returned to Sept. 25). A request that an owner post a $5,000 performance bond was taken under advisement until the Oct. 23 hearing in the Parrot Street matter.

- Emergency vacates: The commission affirmed emergency vacate orders where utilities were inactive and inspectors concluded the dwellings were unfit for habitation, including 624 E. Louisiana St., 415 E. Franklin St., and 2508 W. Franklin St. (the latter was released after services were restored). At 1035 N. Fifth Ave., the commission affirmed an emergency vacate after inspectors reported two sheds being used as living quarters with no utilities.

What owners said: Some owners or their counsel offered repair plans and contractor quotes. Christine Barnhart, a homeowner defending the Parrot Street property, said the family had invested in the house and presented a timeline and one firm roofing quote; she told the court, “We have the cash, we believe, currently, to do the roof… We have $50,000 cash.” Commission staff and the hearing officer repeatedly stressed the need for verified contractor estimates and clear timelines before modifying orders.

Process notes: Inspectors repeatedly reported multiple inspections (some properties had been inspected 5–14 times), the absence of active permits and receipt of neighbor complaints. Commissioners’ findings cited the standard statutory and municipal-code criteria used by the commission: unsafe or impaired structural condition, fire hazard, public nuisance, and vacancy or blight that prevents safe habitation. In several matters the commission accepted exhibits including photographs, title searches and contractor quotes as evidence.

Next steps: Many matters were continued to the commission’s next compliance hearing dates. The hearing officer directed inspectors to communicate clearly with owners about what work is permitted while an order is in place (for example, that a raise order precludes paying contractors to replace siding on a structure ordered raised). Owners who received vacate orders were told to pursue the eviction or emergency-removal process through the court system if occupants refuse to leave.

Votes at a glance (case — CE number — owner — action/result — next step or note): - 1307 Cumberland Ave. — CE not specified — Odra Vanessa Lopez — affirmed repair order; continued to Oct. 23, 2025 for progress. - 1110 Reed St. — 25CE135 — Esquel Vasquez Saldivar — vacate & raise affirmed; exhibits admitted; inspector findings of fire damage and structural decay. - 1421 Parrot St. — CE noted in record — Christine Barnhart — vacate affirmed; raise order modified to a repair order with required completion within six months; progress review set (Oct. 23, 2025); request for $5,000 performance bond taken under advisement. - 1917 Lodge Ave. — 25CE171 — Loretta Niemeyer Trust — vacate & raise affirmed; inspector cited water damage, rodent and vagrant activity; case affirmed. - 700 N. Perth Ave. (garage) — 24CE144 — Lisa K. Isaacs — civil penalty $250 taken under advisement; return Oct. 23 for progress. - 1916 S. Ferris Ave. — 25CE131 — Randy Johnson — vacate & raise affirmed. - 1429 S. Barker Ave. — 25CE138 — David Schroed (owner) — affirmed repair order; continued to Oct. 23 for compliance. - 3926 N. Fourth Ave. — 25CE170 — 3926 N Fourth Ave. Land Trust — repair order; permits on file and progress; continue Oct. 23 for progress. - 651 E. Riverside Dr. — 24CE170 — 651 E Riverside Drive Land Trust — repair order; good progress; return Sept. 25, 2025 if painting/finish complete earlier. - 411 E. Michigan St. — 25CE170 — 411 E. Michigan St. Land Trust — vacate & raise affirmed (fire-damaged; death reported in 2022); no permits; affirmed. - 916 S. Elliott St. and 918 S. Elliott St. — 25CE98 / 24CE219 — New Era Properties LLC — repair orders; returned Oct. 23 for progress (active permits, contact with new owner). - 1143–1163 Covert Ave. — CE noted — Refrindy Indy Inc. — repair order; roof repaired after fire damage; return Oct. 23 for progress. - 624 E. Louisiana St. — 25CE179 — Michael W. Terry (owner present) — emergency vacate affirmed (inactive water service makes dwelling unfit); hearing officer advised owner on next steps to pursue eviction in court. - 1108 & 1110 N. Elliott St. — 25CE164/25CE165 — reserved / continued to later hearing because owner address issues were being corrected. - 604 E. Maryland St. — 25CE175 — Lighthouse Estates LLC — vacate & raise affirmed (rot, roof hole, trash/overgrowth); exhibit and publication service on record. - 415 E. Franklin St. — 25CE123 — Mazrani Global LLC — emergency vacate affirmed; water and gas service inactive. - 2820 B St. — 25CE152 — Don Ernstbiger — emergency vacate released (services restored). - 3162 Dearborn St. (garage) — 25CE163 — Ronald S. Cole — raise order affirmed (roof collapsed; bowing walls; neighbor complaints). - 3458 Crestle Ave. — 25CE160 — repairs completed; matter released. - 2204 W. Delaware St. — 25CE140 — Overnight Home Solutions LLC — repair order modified with new compliance schedule; continued to Sept. 25 for progress. - 407 N. Park Dr. — 25CE158 — repair order affirmed; return Oct. 23 for compliance (owner contact expected via tax-sale purchaser). - 1406 Delmar Ave. — 25CE134 — Andre B. Sherrigan — raise order affirmed; owner is clearing garage and pursuing demolition/raise. - 1516 E. Indiana St. — 24CE113 — Caja Holdings 2 LLC — vacate & raise order; bankruptcy filed; continued to Dec. 11, 2025 (evidentiary reserved). - 1604 Ewing Ave. — 25CE16 — repairs completed; matter released. - 2426 W. Illinois St. — 25CE141 — continued to Oct. 23 for progress (permits on file, owner making significant changes). - 100 Lexington Rd. — 25CE49 — referral to housing court for further action (owner/tenant contact unsuccessful). - 1108 W. Maryland St. — 23CE223 — $500 civil penalty imposed; continue Sept. 25 for compliance. - 1414 Cody St. — 25CE162 — vacate & raise affirmed (rear collapse; shed damage); public nuisance finding affirmed. - 1035 N. Fifth Ave. — 25CE154 — emergency vacate affirmed (two sheds used as living quarters; no utilities; generator use; inactive gas/electric/water reported). - 912 N. Fourth Ave. — 25CE166 — vacate & raise affirmed (bowing wall, foundation holes; neighbor complaint; public nuisance finding). - 1210 Harriet St. — 25CE168 — raise order affirmed (interior defects and collapsing porch; unsafe conditions found). - 725 E. Columbia St. — 24CE184 — continued to Oct. 23 for contact with new owner and notices. - 4405 Fickas Rd. — 25CE41 — inspector requested remodify repair back to raise due to lack of progress; matter reserved for further action. - 219 N. Robertwood Ave. — 25CE58 — owner demolished property; case released. - 201 Van Ave. — 25CE55 — repairs completed; case released. - 501 E. Mulberry St. — 25CE161 — owner signed the notice of violation and agreed to repair; commission accepted signed notice and affirmed the repair order. - 1717 S. New York Ave. — 25CE172 — vacate & raise affirmed on makeshift shanty structure (no foundation, propane tanks, extension cord power; public nuisance finding). - 3316 Austin Ave. — 24CE132 — repair order; owner requested 30 days to remove valuables and sell property; $500 civil penalty under advisement; continued to Sept. 25 for final extension. - 620 E. Blackford Ave. — 24CE168 — continued to Oct. 23 for progress (active permit on file). - 614 Jackson Ave. — 25CE48 — continued to Oct. 23 for progress (initial major concerns addressed). - 918 Judson St. — 25CE106 — $500 civil penalty imposed and order upgraded to raise for failure to make progress. - 518 E. Powell Ave. — 25CE12 — continued to Oct. 23 for progress (permits on file). - 2513 W. Virginia St. — 24CE138 — continued to Oct. 23 for progress (owner’s daughter coordinating sale).

What the commission cited: Across multiple matters the commission explicitly found structures to be in “impaired structural condition,” “dangerous to persons or property,” “a fire hazard,” “a public nuisance,” or “vacant and blighted” — the statutory standards for vacate/raise and repair remedies used by the commission.

Ending: The commission scheduled many progress-check hearings for Sept. 25 and Oct. 23, 2025. Owners who wish to avoid a raise order were repeatedly told by inspectors and the hearing officer that they must provide verified contractor estimates, active permits or clear timelines and that some orders preclude paying contractors for work on structures ordered raised. Owners with immediate occupant issues were directed to pursue eviction through the court system; the hearing officer advised owners to take an emergency-eviction filing to the clerk’s office and, if refused, to seek a judge’s intervention.