Evansville hearing affirms multiple vacate orders, continues many repair and raise cases

The Evansville/Vanderburgh County Building Commission on Nov. 21 affirmed multiple vacate orders, kept some civil penalties under advisement and continued many repair- and raise-order cases to allow owners or prospective buyers to provide timelines and contractor quotes.

Hearing officer Michael DiRienzo opened the session, explaining that his authority derives from Indiana Code 36-7-9 and local unsafe-building ordinances and that his decisions may be appealed to Vanderburgh Superior Court. The department moved through a lengthy docket covering emergency vacates, raise orders and routine repair orders across the city.

Inspector reports frequently described properties as vacant, exposed to the elements and hazardous. Inspector Lukey summarized conditions on 1101 East Powell Avenue as showing "foundation issues, missing mortar, and loose bricks throughout the property" and said the interior had been gutted in many places, with holes in the floor and missing siding that exposed the house to the elements. The owner, who identified himself in the hearing, said he had obtained contractor quotes and that previous permits on file bore the prior owner’s name; he asked for time to present evidence and indicated he had invested in other nearby properties.

On several cases the commission took a…