Posted on June 16, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The North Judson Mint Festival is set to get underway this evening, in spite of an unsafe building on Lane Street. “We knew that this was a possibility and so we had a plan B and we’re working with plan B and it’s going fine,” says Mint Festival President Donna Henry.
The structure at 205 and 207 Lane Street is believed to be in danger of collapse. Part of it already fell in on itself last month. Town officials had hoped to have it torn down before the Mint Festival begins, but the town council last week rejected the only demolition quote.
However, Henry says the town has taken steps to keep festival-goers safe this weekend. “The town has put up temporary fencing around it, so that it’s completely blocked off,” she says. “The festival-goers will still be able to walk along the one sidewalk along that area, but it’ll be protected from the building.”
Henry says some of the festival’s vendors will be relocated, as a result. “We’re going to start our vendor spots at that second half of that block of Lane Street,” she explains. “Our vendor committee has worked really hard to make sure that we have enough space for all of our vendors, and as far as I know, all of our spaces are filled. They have done a great job, and I want to thank Paige and Bob [Barnett] for that.”
Henry reminds visitors that pets, bicycles, and unauthorized golf carts will not be allowed into the Mint Festival. Otherwise, she says organizers are looking forward to a successful event. “We have some new attractions this year, and we have some enhancements for our 5K run,” she says. “We have some new and different bands for our music arena. We are just looking forward to a great Mint Festival weekend, and we are praying that Mother Nature cooperates.”
The North Judson Mint Festival gets underway this evening at 5:00 p.m., with an opening ceremony at Norwayne Field. The festival continues through Sunday.
Showing posts with label unsafe building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unsafe building. Show all posts
Friday, June 16, 2017
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Report Finds Partially Collapsed North Judson Building Unsafe for Entry
Posted on June 1, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The owner of a partially collapsed building in downtown North Judson will not be able to retrieve his personal property from inside. The 205-207 Lane Street Structural Engineering Report prepared by South Bend-based DLZ found the building to be in “critical condition” overall.
It further recommends it should be demolished as soon as possible and states “access into the structure should be restricted. Moving or shifting of loads within the building should be avoided due to the potentially overloaded and unstable condition of the framing.”
The building partially collapsed last month after heavy rains caused part of the roof to fall in. Town Attorney Justin Schramm filed a complaint in Starke Circuit Court seeking an emergency demolition order.
Special Judge Michael Shurn granted the request but also ordered the structural engineering study be completed to determine whether owner Doug Cassel could safely remove personal property from the building first.
Items inside the building include a 1978 Cadillac El Dorado parked in a garage on the 205 Lane Street side. The structural engineering report states “more than likely the floor was not designed to support a vehicle as the garage at the east end of 205 Lane Street was added after the original construction. It is unclear if the floor was strengthened to support this vehicle. The floor joists are most likely over stressed especially given the amount of moisture observed soaked into the framing.”
Town Superintendent Marshall Hortsman told the council during a special-called Wednesday meeting he’s waiting on a final asbestos report before proceeding with the hiring of a contractor to demolish the building. Hortsman should have that report in hand by tomorrow and will be able to follow up with contractors.
He wants whoever tears the building down to handle all of the IDEM paperwork regarding asbestos. Hortsman adds it’s possible the building can at least be torn down before the Mint Festival. If the rubble isn’t cleared by then, a fence will be placed around the debris for safety.
Meanwhile residents are reminded not to enter the structure due to imminent danger of collapse. The street in front of the building is closed, and several “no trespassing” signs have been placed.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The owner of a partially collapsed building in downtown North Judson will not be able to retrieve his personal property from inside. The 205-207 Lane Street Structural Engineering Report prepared by South Bend-based DLZ found the building to be in “critical condition” overall.
It further recommends it should be demolished as soon as possible and states “access into the structure should be restricted. Moving or shifting of loads within the building should be avoided due to the potentially overloaded and unstable condition of the framing.”
The building partially collapsed last month after heavy rains caused part of the roof to fall in. Town Attorney Justin Schramm filed a complaint in Starke Circuit Court seeking an emergency demolition order.
Special Judge Michael Shurn granted the request but also ordered the structural engineering study be completed to determine whether owner Doug Cassel could safely remove personal property from the building first.
Items inside the building include a 1978 Cadillac El Dorado parked in a garage on the 205 Lane Street side. The structural engineering report states “more than likely the floor was not designed to support a vehicle as the garage at the east end of 205 Lane Street was added after the original construction. It is unclear if the floor was strengthened to support this vehicle. The floor joists are most likely over stressed especially given the amount of moisture observed soaked into the framing.”
Town Superintendent Marshall Hortsman told the council during a special-called Wednesday meeting he’s waiting on a final asbestos report before proceeding with the hiring of a contractor to demolish the building. Hortsman should have that report in hand by tomorrow and will be able to follow up with contractors.
He wants whoever tears the building down to handle all of the IDEM paperwork regarding asbestos. Hortsman adds it’s possible the building can at least be torn down before the Mint Festival. If the rubble isn’t cleared by then, a fence will be placed around the debris for safety.
Meanwhile residents are reminded not to enter the structure due to imminent danger of collapse. The street in front of the building is closed, and several “no trespassing” signs have been placed.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
North Judson Making Progress on Unsafe Building, Railroad Lease Agreement
Posted on September 21, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
A few ongoing legal issues were discussed during Monday’s North Judson Town Council meeting. Town Attorney Rachel Arndt is taking steps concerning a downtown building the town believes is unsafe. “As far as 205 and 207 Lane Street, she received the title search back and is proceeding with what she needs to do with that, so it should be going down the road getting closer,” said Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins.
Doug Cassel refused to allow town officials to conduct a scheduled walk-through of his building. For weeks, the town had been urging Cassel to fix various safety hazards, including a broken window, unsecured doors, falling debris, and roofing issues. Collins says the town is also beginning the hearing process for other potentially unsafe buildings.
Meanwhile, Arndt continues working on a lease agreement for the town’s short line railroad. Lake State Railway was selected to lease the railroad back in July. Now, work continues to finalize a formal agreement. One of the main issues in the process is making sure Co-Alliance, the line’s primary freight customer, is satisfied with the arrangement.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
A few ongoing legal issues were discussed during Monday’s North Judson Town Council meeting. Town Attorney Rachel Arndt is taking steps concerning a downtown building the town believes is unsafe. “As far as 205 and 207 Lane Street, she received the title search back and is proceeding with what she needs to do with that, so it should be going down the road getting closer,” said Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins.
Doug Cassel refused to allow town officials to conduct a scheduled walk-through of his building. For weeks, the town had been urging Cassel to fix various safety hazards, including a broken window, unsecured doors, falling debris, and roofing issues. Collins says the town is also beginning the hearing process for other potentially unsafe buildings.
Meanwhile, Arndt continues working on a lease agreement for the town’s short line railroad. Lake State Railway was selected to lease the railroad back in July. Now, work continues to finalize a formal agreement. One of the main issues in the process is making sure Co-Alliance, the line’s primary freight customer, is satisfied with the arrangement.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
North Judson Demands Safety Improvements to Downtown Building
Posted on August 18, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The condition of a Downtown North Judson building is leading the town council to consider taking action. The town council has been urging Doug Cassel to fix several items deemed to be safety hazards at his building, including a broken window, unsecured doors, falling debris, and roofing issues.
Cassel told the council Monday that he’s slowly making progress on those items. “I have new doors to put on,” he said. “It’s not the way I liked it, [but] I put up plywood. They are secured. The front door will lock, is locked, will be locked. That was one of the complaints was that it was open all the time. It can be locked, and it’s locked right now. The plywood is on the back of the building. I had two doors that wouldn’t close. I’ve got new doors to put on them. I just ran out of time.”
He added that the back porch, which the town believed was in danger of falling, had been torn down. However, Town Marshal John Ramos disputed that, presenting photographs of the site to Cassel and council members.
Ramos also noticed several other problems. “The very front of the building, he’s got some tuck-pointing work that needs to be done, and then also these bricks on the top appear to be loose, which means that they can fall right onto the street and anybody that’s walking past,” Ramos said. “It’s an extremely dangerous and hazardous position.” Cassel responded that the bricks are secure.
However, even from outside the building, Ramos said it was apparent there were interior issues, as well. “We’ve got beams inside, the i-beams – they’re rusted,” he said. “Also, you’ve got electrical wiring hanging down. I took this picture from the outside, from the sidewalk. As you could see right here, beams are rusted. Electrical wiring is hanging out. And then if you look at this one, not only can you see the roof falling down on the floor from the ceiling, you can also see daylight through the outside of the building, right here. Four years, three years you’ve been working on the building? Really?”
On top of those issues, the town claims Cassel owes $2,000, due to a streetlight in need of repairs. Town Attorney Rachel Arndt says Cassel hasn’t made any sort of payment since 2013.
Ramos, along with North Judson’s building inspector and a representative of the town’s unsafe hearing board planned to conduct a walk-through of the structure this morning. The town council plans to make some additional decisions on the property at its next meeting.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The condition of a Downtown North Judson building is leading the town council to consider taking action. The town council has been urging Doug Cassel to fix several items deemed to be safety hazards at his building, including a broken window, unsecured doors, falling debris, and roofing issues.
Cassel told the council Monday that he’s slowly making progress on those items. “I have new doors to put on,” he said. “It’s not the way I liked it, [but] I put up plywood. They are secured. The front door will lock, is locked, will be locked. That was one of the complaints was that it was open all the time. It can be locked, and it’s locked right now. The plywood is on the back of the building. I had two doors that wouldn’t close. I’ve got new doors to put on them. I just ran out of time.”
He added that the back porch, which the town believed was in danger of falling, had been torn down. However, Town Marshal John Ramos disputed that, presenting photographs of the site to Cassel and council members.
Ramos also noticed several other problems. “The very front of the building, he’s got some tuck-pointing work that needs to be done, and then also these bricks on the top appear to be loose, which means that they can fall right onto the street and anybody that’s walking past,” Ramos said. “It’s an extremely dangerous and hazardous position.” Cassel responded that the bricks are secure.
However, even from outside the building, Ramos said it was apparent there were interior issues, as well. “We’ve got beams inside, the i-beams – they’re rusted,” he said. “Also, you’ve got electrical wiring hanging down. I took this picture from the outside, from the sidewalk. As you could see right here, beams are rusted. Electrical wiring is hanging out. And then if you look at this one, not only can you see the roof falling down on the floor from the ceiling, you can also see daylight through the outside of the building, right here. Four years, three years you’ve been working on the building? Really?”
On top of those issues, the town claims Cassel owes $2,000, due to a streetlight in need of repairs. Town Attorney Rachel Arndt says Cassel hasn’t made any sort of payment since 2013.
Ramos, along with North Judson’s building inspector and a representative of the town’s unsafe hearing board planned to conduct a walk-through of the structure this morning. The town council plans to make some additional decisions on the property at its next meeting.
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