(La Porte, IN) - What’s described by police as a former drug house on Kingsporte Lane in La Porte is being demolished.

Code Enforcement Director Jeff Batchelor said the city condemned the house, which had several structural issues and problems with people breaking inside and using drugs after being abandoned.

“We had people squatting in it. We had to run them out of there. The basement was caving in. The roof had holes in it. The windows was falling out of it. This is a great win for the city getting this house down,” Batchelor said.

The house is the latest in a long string of demolitions since Mayor Tom Dermody took office in 2020.

Several run-down houses and former commercial buildings have come down in his mission to remove eyesores and drugs from neighborhoods through stiffer code enforcement. But, Dermody says his foot remains on the wrecking ball’s gas pedal.

“We’ve got more to hit on Kingsporte Lane. We’ve said one house at a time. Those who don’t want to follow our rules, we’re coming at you,” Dermody said.

Officials said that new affordable housing is planned on the site once the demolition is cleaned up.