Evansville building commission affirms multiple vacate, raise and repair orders, sets inspection and repair deadlines

Evansville — The Evansville building commission’s hearing officer, Ryan Schultz, affirmed a series of enforcement actions at the commission’s March 20, 2025 hearing, ordering the raising or vacating of multiple unsafe structures, affirming emergency vacate orders where utilities were inactive, and setting deadlines for repair plans and follow-up inspections.

Schultz said the hearing panel had authority under local unsafe-building ordinances and state enabling code to act: “My authority is derived from median code 36Dash7Dash9,” he told those present. He repeatedly invoked that authority when issuing rulings and setting compliance deadlines.

Why it matters: The commission’s decisions affect property owners, tenants and nearby neighborhoods by removing structures the city deems hazardous, ordering repairs and establishing timelines that, if unmet, can lead to city-ordered demolition (raising) or civil penalties.

Key outcomes

- 335 South Parker Avenue (CE 23CE129): Hearing officer Schultz ordered that the detached garage be raised. The owner, Patrick Barnett, told the commission he planned to “raise the garage” and obtain permits; Schultz said he would order an on-site and interior inspection of the house…