Evansville hearing affirms multiple vacate and raise orders, sets repair deadlines and continuances

Evansville — A pro tem hearing officer affirmed multiple vacate and raise orders at the Evansville–Vanderburgh County building commission hearings on Oct. 23, 2025, ordering demolition bids in some cases, modifying one raise order to a repair order with a Feb. 26, 2026 completion deadline, and returning several other matters for progress review in November and December.

Hearing officer Michael DiRienzo opened the session by describing his authority under Indiana Code 36-7-9 and local unsafe-building rules: "My name is Michael DiRienzo. I've been appointed as a pro tem hearing officer by mayor Terry and my authorities derive from Indiana code 36 dash 7 dash 9 and the unsafe building laws and ordinances enacted by the city council of Evansville," he said.

The commission considered more than two dozen properties. Major outcomes recorded during the session included:

- 413 South Bedford Avenue (25CE130): The hearing officer affirmed the previously issued raise order for the garage and affirmed the raise order for the house; a vacate order for the house was also affirmed. The hearing officer directed that the property be taken to bid for demolition/repair where appropriate.

- 2526 Baker Avenue (25CE82): The hearing officer affirmed the vacate order but modified the raise order to a repair order, giving the owner a completion…