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Warsaw Code Enforcement ordered the demolition of a structure on Columbia Street during a meeting Tuesday.
Building Inspector Robert Hurford said the home at 515 N. Columbia St. was bought by Alpheus Eherenman following a fire at the former residence in November 2024. Hurford said he was told Eherenman was working on renovating the structure.
"In that process, I've met with (Eherenman)," said Hurford. "He decided to take off the roof and second story to rebuild it. But the building has pretty much sat there in that condition since then. It's open to the elements; the windows and doors are out of it so people can get in and out of it."
Hurford said a prior issue with tall grass had been resolved prior to the meeting. Eherenman attended the meeting and told Hearing Officer Tom Earhart he wasn't properly notified of the upcoming hearing, stating he received letters about it on June 17. He said the letters needed to be signed by an adult for approval but neither he nor his wife signed them.
City officials stated letters were sent to Eherenman on June 8, with the United States Postal Service confirming to the city they were received on June 11. They also told Earhart that Eherenman's building permit expired on June 20.
Eherenman explained to Earhart he had multiple conversations with the city's building department about resolving the issues and he wanted to get a permit extension.
"I bought this property with a lending group," said Eherenman. "As I got the roof taken off, they went from pre-funding projects to re-funding the projects, meaning I had to front the money to do the project."
Hurford said it's been over a year since construction began and that work isn't finished, with the city receiving complaints about the property. He requested a demolition order for the structure.
"The project has sat there and done nothing," said Hurford. "What brought us back to this was neighbor complaints of tall grass, weeds, rodents, animals trying to get into their property because they're living in (Eherenman's) property. It's an eyesore."
Earhart gave Eherenman 30 days to get with NIPSCO on retiring the structure's gas line and begin demolition on his own. However, if that doesn't happen within that timeframe, the city will proceed with demolition on the property at Eherenman's expense.
In other business, Matthew Minthorn, owner of 505 Argonne Road, attended the meeting to address concerns from city officials about roofing material blowing off the structure and into the roadways.
Hurford said he wanted repairs done to the structure within 14 days and also noted he hadn't been granted access to the building's interior. Minthorn noted he owns 515 Argonne Road but 505 Argonne Road was owned by Dean Avey. The county's Beacon GIS still lists Minthorn as owning the entire structure.
Minthorn told Earhart he only owns part of the building and currently utilizes it for cold storage. City officials and Minthorn agreed to set up a day and time for the city to look at the structure's interior to determine if there's any additional issues that need corrected.
Two cases previously discussed at the code enforcement's last meeting in April were also resolved.
A house at 757 W. Center St. was demolished as requested, with the case being dismissed from code enforcement's docket.
The building housing Lakeland Art Gallery at 119 S. Buffalo St. also had its door and emergency exit lighting issues resolved. However, attorneys representing the City of Warsaw and the property owner are currently in conversation about ongoing lien issues.
