(La Porte, IN) - More run-down housing in La Porte has been eliminated.

An apartment house in the 700 block of Maple Street has been torn down to make room for parking. In addition, the old Monroe Street Apartments are being remodeled into better quality, affordable housing.

Mayor Tom Dermody was there when the apartment house was getting torn down last week. He said that property and the old Monroe Street Apartments were sources of many calls to the police.

“We talked about we weren’t going to tolerate any longer all of the police calls. 26-years of issues no more,” Dermody said.

Both housing units were plagued by drug dealing, fighting, and other forms of misbehavior.  

Dermody said the old Monroe Street Apartments, now called Maple Commons, should be ready for occupancy sometime early next year. 

Several other run-down homes and unsafe structures sitting empty for years have been demolished since Dermody took over as mayor nearly 22 months ago.