Evansville hearing affirms multiple vacate/raise orders, sets repair dates and fines

The Evansville Building Commission held enforcement hearings Feb. 27, 2025, reviewing dozens of unsafe-building cases. Pro Tem hearing officer Michael D'Rienzo affirmed multiple emergency vacate and raise orders, modified some orders to allow repairs, and directed follow-up dates and civil penalties where the department reported noncompliance.

“My authority derives from Indiana code 36 7 9 and the unsafe building laws and ordinances enacted by the city council of Evansville. I have authority to issue civil penalties up to $5,000,” Pro Tem hearing officer Michael D'Rienzo told attendees at the start of the hearing.

The most urgent actions were emergency vacate and raise orders affirmed on properties the department described as fire-damaged or without required utilities. Inspectors told the commission that several structures were not safe for human occupancy; in those cases the commission affirmed vacate orders that require the properties to remain vacant until the city issues a certificate of occupancy or the commission is otherwise notified.

Not every matter resulted in demolition orders. For some properties, inspectors and owners reported repair work under way or prospective buyers and contractors prepared to begin work; the hearing officer modified several raise orders to repair orders by agreement and set firm dates for progress reports or completion.

The commission also imposed and upheld civil penalties where inspectors reported continued noncompliance, and in other matters set deadlines for owners or prospective buyers to deliver a planning time frame to the department so the office can determine whether to allow permit activity while a raise order stands.

Votes at a glance (case / address → outcome, next step): - 21CE173 — 10 E. Florida St. (owner Armando Ortiz): Vacate order affirmed; raise order modified to a repair order by agreement; repairs to be completed by 04/24/2025; matter returned 04/24/2025 for progress. - 25C23 — 308 E. Issel Ave. (owners Michael and Sean Turrie): Emergency vacate affirmed (utilities inactive); vacate to remain until certificate of occupancy; matter continued/monitored as appropriate. - 24CE170 — 651 E. Riverside Dr. (owner Eric Stucker): Affirmed; $500 civil penalty imposed for noncompliance; return 03/20/2025 for update. - 24CE184 — 725 E.…