Board of Works upholds inspectors’ finding that Graves Building is unsafe; city outlines next legal steps

Mayor told attendees that Crown Point inspectors found the Graves Building unsafe, that the Board of Works held a hearing and voted to uphold the inspectors’ determination, and that the city will follow established legal procedures if a demolition order is required.

What happened: The mayor said inspectors had determined the building’s condition posed a public safety risk and that the Board of Works voted to affirm that finding. He emphasized the city must follow county paperwork and legal processes and will continue regular communication with the property owner, who is pursuing its own structural assessment and working with insurance.

Why it matters: A Board of Works determination that a building is unsafe is the legal predicate for later steps, which can include a city‑issued demolition order if the owner does not remediate. The mayor said the city paid to remove debris and has spent funds on site stabilization; when—and if—the city sells other city‑owned parcels it intends to recoup related costs.

Next steps and clarifications: The mayor said the property owner supplied a second structural engineer’s evaluation and is working with insurance; the city will not act unilaterally and will follow the county’s process if a demolition order is issued. Residents were told the matter remains subject to ongoing legal steps.

Quote: “The board voted yes, it is an unsafe building,” the mayor said, describing the Board of Works hearing and the city’s obligation to pursue public safety steps.

Actions recorded: The transcript records the Board of Works vote upholding the inspectors’ unsafe building finding; no demolition order was announced at the meeting.