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St. Joseph County affirms demolition orders for multiple South Bend properties; some owners granted short extensions
Summary
At a county commissioners meeting, officials affirmed demolition orders for multiple South Bend properties, agreeing in several cases to work with owners for roughly 60 days before pursuing bids. Building staff said they started the year with 17 structures and reduced the list to about seven.
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners affirmed demolition orders for multiple properties in South Bend on motions that carried by voice vote.
Building commissioner Randy James described a range of unsafe conditions at the properties, citing collapsed roofs, fire damage, water infiltration and wildlife intrusion. "This property at 20245 Brick Road has a roof collapsing in," James told the board, recommending demolition as a hazard to public health and unsafe for habitation.
Several owners appeared or were represented and asked for time to address the problems. Owner Richard McClure, whose property at 24860 Fillmore Road has a collapsing roof and open windows, said he does not live at the site but is working on permits and plans to hire a contractor. "I just ask for an extension of time, like 6 more months, to get it completely tore down," McClure said, noting delays with the gas company and permitting. James confirmed county records show prior notices and said staff would work with McClure and could offer about a 60‑day period to demonstrate progress before moving to bid the work.
Carolyn *****, representing Rich Restorations LLC for 52604 Mark Street, described plans to rehabilitate a fire‑damaged house she bought in 2022 and said she had collected bids and planned to bring an engineer in to assess structural repairs. The board affirmed the demolition orders with the building department agreeing to work with property owners in cases where a short timeline for progress was requested.
Other properties approved for demolition included 20245 Brick Road; the garage at 54483 Whistle Drive; 52626 Marks Street; 23809 Lynn Street; and 54405 Norwood, where David Farhar, representing Shark Investments LLC, agreed to work with county staff. For 55921 Crench Road, staff reported that a demolition permit had already been pulled and no action was necessary.
County staff said they began the year with 17 candidate structures and resolved more than half through communication and follow‑up; they estimated roughly seven remained under discussion at this hearing. Each motion carried with Commissioners Hazen and Dieter voting Aye.
The board affirmed the orders and in multiple cases offered approximately 60 days for owners and staff to coordinate repairs, permits or demolition plans before the county proceeds with bidding for removal.
