(La Porte, IN) - Close to a dozen residential buildings in La Porte have been condemned during the mayor’s first year in office.  Expect more of the same next year in the city.

 

Mayor Tom Dermody said 11 apartment buildings were condemned in 2020 while residents of those structures received assistance in finding new homes.  LaPorte Code Enforcement Director Jeff Batchelor said many of the condemned housing structures were fixed up and brought into compliance without having to resort to demolition.

 

Dermody also said other structures like the old Lady Rose Bar and the old Tibma Bakery were torn down to make way for potential new development.  “These properties have long been eyesores in the heart of our city. With their removal, we have opportunity for new housing,” he said.

 

Batchelor said an additional code enforcement officer for 2021 has already been hired to allow him to focus on addressing more vacant houses and other empty structures.

 

One of the condemned buildings was Monroe St. Apartments at 701 Maple Avenue.  Batchelor said just a handful of residents were still inside the close to 50 unit structure on Christmas Eve, the deadline established six months ago for everyone to vacate.  He said all of the remaining residents complied when asked to leave and already made arrangements to stay in hotels or with family and friends.