Evansville building commission affirms multiple raise orders, schedules inspections and sets deadlines after April 24 hearings

Evansville, Ind. — The Evansville City Building Commission on April 24, 2025, heard more than two dozen property cases alleging unsafe or blighted conditions and issued a mix of affirmed raise orders, modified repair orders, inspection appointments and continuances.

The hearing officer, Ryan Schultz, opened the session and ran a series of evidentiary hearings on properties across Evansville. Several owners and prospective purchasers appeared and in some cases reached agreements with inspectors that changed the commission’s requested remedy.

Why it matters: The commission enforces the city’s unsafe-building ordinances and can require structures to be repaired, vacated, raised (demolished) or otherwise abated; decisions affect property owners, neighbors and nearby tenants and can trigger demolition bids, referral to housing court or civil penalties.

Votes at a glance - CE#25CE16 — 1604 Ewing Ave (owner: Raycio Rodriguez). Outcome: Agreed modification — the raise order was modified to a repair order by agreement. A signed Notice of Violation and a plan/time frame were admitted; the parties agreed the work will be completed in 90 days (agreed order entered). Evidence: inspector’s NOV and the signed plan submitted as exhibits. - CE#25CE15 — 619 E Chandler Ave (owner: estate of Shirley A. Payne). Outcome: Affirmed raise order but commission agreed to delay bidding/implementation to June to allow the heirs time to pursue land-bank adoption or other remedies. - CE#25CE41 — 4405 Ficketts Rd (owner: Linda Bell). Outcome: Matter taken under advisement; on-site interior and exterior inspection ordered for Tuesday, April 29 at 1:00 p.m.; matter is set to return May 22 for further action. - CE#25CE42 — 208 E Florida St (owners: Maria Viscara and Paulina Ortiz). Outcome: Raise and vacate orders affirmed; building commission instructed staff to put the matter out for bid for abatement (inspector evidence and photographs admitted). - CE#25CE54 — 219 Harper Ave (owner: Dane Clark Sr.). Outcome: Inspector acknowledged permits and partial progress; on-site inspection ordered for May 20 at 1:00 p.m.; matter taken under advisement and will return May 22 for final decision if necessary. - CE#24CE135 — 410 S Denby Ave (prospective buyer: Rosen Investments LLC / property manager Nicole Pinedo). Outcome: Raise order affirmed. The hearing officer noted purchasers could, after taking deed, present a plan to the commission to attempt to preserve the structure, but he did not grant additional time now. - CE#25CE63 — 1011 N 5th Ave (owner: Maria Najera). Outcome: Orders and exhibits admitted; the hearing officer affirmed the raise order after reviewing evidence of structural decay, pest and vagrant activity and trash. - CE#25CE67 — 317 Adams Ave (owner: Gregory L. Lamar). Outcome: Emergency vacate affirmed due to inactive water and electric service reported by utilities in department emails; property remains under emergency vacate status. - CE#25CE48 — 614 Jackson Ave (owner: Ohana Rentals LLC). Outcome: Building commission accepted a plan from the manager/property representative and agreed the exterior work should be completed by May 20; matter taken under advisement and will return May 22 if work is not completed and verified. - CE#23CE138 — 1203 N Garvin St (owner: Stanton family). Outcome: Raise order affirmed based on extended history of complaints, interior and exterior damage and intermittent compliance; the hearing officer advised the owner of appeal rights and noted prior opportunities to repair. - CE#24CE146 — 828 Taylor Ave (owner: Dave Copeland). Outcome: Department to perform on-site inspection May 1 at 1:00 p.m. to verify owner’s reported repairs; matter will return May 22 for final review if needed. - CE#24CE168 — 620 E Blackford Ave (owner: Brett A. Basham / prospective buyer: Patrick Rose). Outcome: Return for progress June 26; department reported permits active and progress being made. - CE#24C217 — 916 S Elliott St (owners: Bailey R. Hogue & John L. Hogue). Outcome: Return for progress June 26 (permits active, some progress reported). - CE#25CE57 — 1210 Harriet St (owner: Logan G. Moore). Outcome: Emergency vacate affirmed after city and utility records showed water and electric inactive; exhibits (utility emails) admitted. - CE#24CE78 — 114 E Tennessee St (owner: Gold Investments LLC). Outcome: Raise order affirmed based on interior deterioration and open access; commission affirmed orders to proceed. - CE#25CE59 — 1807 Ridgeway Ave (sheds; owner: estate of Sandra K. Stupeville). Outcome: Raise orders for three sheds affirmed; commission cited dilapidation and structure collapse risk. - CE#23CE129 — 335 S Barker Ave (fire-damaged property). Outcome: Raise order affirmed; inspector’s photos (many) documented fire damage and loss of structural integrity. - CE#25CE62 — 3900 Saunders Ave (owner: estate of Rita C. Hammermeister). Outcome: Emergency vacate remains in effect and raise order affirmed; evidence cited long-term lack of utilities, fire damage and open exposure to the elements. - Selected routine matters: multiple properties where the department reported progress and the commission set return dates (e.g., 620 E Blackford, 3316 Austin Ave, 3403 Austin Ave, 518 E Powell Ave, numerous other routine matters were returned to June 26 or May 22 for verification or release after inspection). Several properties deemed repaired were released from enforcement when inspections confirmed completion.

What the commission did (process and immediate next steps) - For several cases the hearing officer ordered on-site inspections (examples: 4405 Ficketts Rd — April 29 at 1 p.m.; 219 Harper Ave — May 20 at 1 p.m.; 828 Taylor Ave — May 1 at 1 p.m.). - Where owners or prospective buyers presented signed plans and time frames, the commission accepted agreed repair orders (example: 1604 Ewing Ave — agreed NOV and a 90-day plan). - The commission affirmed emergency vacates where utilities were reported inactive by utility departments (example: 317 Adams Ave and 1210 Harriet St). - For properties with established structural collapse, pervasive fire damage, or open, unsecured holes (cisterns, chimneys, collapsed porches), the commission affirmed raise (demolition) orders and instructed staff to put actions out to bid unless the owner cured conditions or a legitimate third party (land bank, purchaser) provided a documented plan.

Public-safety and neighbor concerns Commission members and inspectors repeatedly cited public-safety issues: open holes and cisterns, missing windows and doors, roof failure and water intrusion, evidence of vagrant activity and refuse/human waste in yards. Inspectors documented multiple neighbor complaints in several files; the hearing authority emphasized that the commission’s statutory powers are intended to remedy hazards that pose risk to neighbors and passersby.

Appeal and compliance options Hearing officer Ryan Schultz repeatedly informed property owners that they may appeal a decision to the Vanderburgh County Superior Court within 10 days of a ruling. In multiple cases the commission left open a compliance route for owners or new purchasers who can provide verified contractor plans, signed contracts and permit filings to the department before the commission proceeds to bid demolition.

Ending: next calendar steps Most continued or compliance-focused matters were set to return at the commission’s May 22, 2025, docket (or the department’s June 26 progress docket) or were assigned specific site-inspection appointments; owners, purchasers or their agents were instructed to contact inspectors to verify work completion before the return date.

(Reporting note: Article summarizes decisions and directions taken on April 24, 2025, and lists the primary outcomes. Direct quotations in the hearing were limited; the hearing officer’s procedural directions (scheduling inspections, advising appeal rights) are reflected in the listed outcomes.)