Glen Terrace 'Quite A Nuisance,' Official Says
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The condemned and vacant Glen Terrace Apartment complex, on Walter Way, Warsaw, is housing unwelcome guests occasionally, creating both fire and safety hazards, according to Pam Kennedy, Warsaw's building inspector and assistant building commissioner.
At the Warsaw Code Enforcement hearings Monday Kennedy gave an update regarding the condemned 40-unit apartment building.
The first notice of code violation orders was received in December 1999. Tenants were evicted in June 2000.
The lack of fire separations between apartments is considered the major violation along with a long list of other problems.
Over the course of the last year repair work has started and stopped, management companies have supposedly been changed, and, in the latest turn of events, owner John Call communicated to Kennedy he plans to allow foreclosure by the USDA Rural Development.
Neither Call nor a Rural Development representative appeared at the hearing.
Kennedy reported someone recently entered an apartment, installed a mattress and enjoyed meal by candlelight.
"On Friday," Kennedy said, "another place was broken into. It's quite a nuisance out there now."
According to Call, the inspector explained, he is waiting for Rural Development to foreclose. Then he will pay off the loan and address repairs.
Glen Terrace was built with a 50-year low-interest federal loan, specifying that low-income tenants rent the apartments. Paying off the loan frees restrictions on the apartment rent ceiling.
Kennedy said a Rural Development representative also said foreclosure is pending.
She suggested to hearing officer Lawrence Clifford the city place the property in receivership. She wants the apartments, at least temporarily, boarded up.
Clifford cautioned Kennedy that they didn't actually know foreclosure is pending, which could be easily discovered, he said, looking to attorney Bill Fawley.
Foreclosure, Clifford said, might take one to two years and be followed by a U.S. marshal's sale.
The city could instigate a receivership to effect repairs, placing a lien on the property to recover costs, and a not-for-profit organization would manage it.
Clifford ordered the complex boarded and secured immediately. He said if it is not secured by Call the city should do it.
In addition to more than $10,000 in fines, Clifford imposed an additional $1,000 fine on each of the five units for non-compliance.
Doug Owens appeared at the hearing to represent Ruth Horn, who owns property at 712 N. Ellsworth St. Owens is Horn's contractor.
Owens said the interior work is done. He plans to begin work on the roof and porch in the spring.
Kennedy agreed that 90 percent of the home is in compliance now, except the exterior.
Clifford extended a $1,000 civil penalty until April 16. Subject to inspection, it may be reoccupied.
Ralph Fitch represented himself and his wife as owners of apartments A and B at 214 Fort Wayne Ave.
The duplex has been vacant since October and Clifford has extended orders three times for plumbing work.
Fitch said he just hired a plumbing contractor and asked for another four weeks.
Clifford said he would grant an extension one last time, until Feb. 19, and imposed a new civil fine of $500 to be collected if the work is not done on time.
A previous fine of $1,000 is to be collected, as work was not done by Dec. 22.
Continued to the February hearing were the cases of Terry and Connie Holzheuer, 303 S. Indiana St., apartments 2 through 5, and of Frauhiger Realty, 822 E. Winona Ave.
Cases rescinded for compliance were Hua Mei China Restaurant, 902 E. Fort Wayne St., and that of Larry Hillard Jr., 309 Prairie St. [[In-content Ad]]
The condemned and vacant Glen Terrace Apartment complex, on Walter Way, Warsaw, is housing unwelcome guests occasionally, creating both fire and safety hazards, according to Pam Kennedy, Warsaw's building inspector and assistant building commissioner.
At the Warsaw Code Enforcement hearings Monday Kennedy gave an update regarding the condemned 40-unit apartment building.
The first notice of code violation orders was received in December 1999. Tenants were evicted in June 2000.
The lack of fire separations between apartments is considered the major violation along with a long list of other problems.
Over the course of the last year repair work has started and stopped, management companies have supposedly been changed, and, in the latest turn of events, owner John Call communicated to Kennedy he plans to allow foreclosure by the USDA Rural Development.
Neither Call nor a Rural Development representative appeared at the hearing.
Kennedy reported someone recently entered an apartment, installed a mattress and enjoyed meal by candlelight.
"On Friday," Kennedy said, "another place was broken into. It's quite a nuisance out there now."
According to Call, the inspector explained, he is waiting for Rural Development to foreclose. Then he will pay off the loan and address repairs.
Glen Terrace was built with a 50-year low-interest federal loan, specifying that low-income tenants rent the apartments. Paying off the loan frees restrictions on the apartment rent ceiling.
Kennedy said a Rural Development representative also said foreclosure is pending.
She suggested to hearing officer Lawrence Clifford the city place the property in receivership. She wants the apartments, at least temporarily, boarded up.
Clifford cautioned Kennedy that they didn't actually know foreclosure is pending, which could be easily discovered, he said, looking to attorney Bill Fawley.
Foreclosure, Clifford said, might take one to two years and be followed by a U.S. marshal's sale.
The city could instigate a receivership to effect repairs, placing a lien on the property to recover costs, and a not-for-profit organization would manage it.
Clifford ordered the complex boarded and secured immediately. He said if it is not secured by Call the city should do it.
In addition to more than $10,000 in fines, Clifford imposed an additional $1,000 fine on each of the five units for non-compliance.
Doug Owens appeared at the hearing to represent Ruth Horn, who owns property at 712 N. Ellsworth St. Owens is Horn's contractor.
Owens said the interior work is done. He plans to begin work on the roof and porch in the spring.
Kennedy agreed that 90 percent of the home is in compliance now, except the exterior.
Clifford extended a $1,000 civil penalty until April 16. Subject to inspection, it may be reoccupied.
Ralph Fitch represented himself and his wife as owners of apartments A and B at 214 Fort Wayne Ave.
The duplex has been vacant since October and Clifford has extended orders three times for plumbing work.
Fitch said he just hired a plumbing contractor and asked for another four weeks.
Clifford said he would grant an extension one last time, until Feb. 19, and imposed a new civil fine of $500 to be collected if the work is not done on time.
A previous fine of $1,000 is to be collected, as work was not done by Dec. 22.
Continued to the February hearing were the cases of Terry and Connie Holzheuer, 303 S. Indiana St., apartments 2 through 5, and of Frauhiger Realty, 822 E. Winona Ave.
Cases rescinded for compliance were Hua Mei China Restaurant, 902 E. Fort Wayne St., and that of Larry Hillard Jr., 309 Prairie St. [[In-content Ad]]