Abandoned Home Raises Safety Concerns In Evansville Neighborhood
By: Kayla Moody
Updated: October 31, 2012
Evansville resident Randy Bogard has lived in the same home in the 1200 block of East Riverside Drive for 30 years. Bogard says his next-door-neighbor moved out in 2008 and never returned. His home fell in disrepair, and last year, that neighbor died. Despite the fact no one lives inside the home, Bogard says there is no shortage of activity next door.
"We got homeless people, drug addicts, prostitution -- you name it, it's been in that house," says Bogard. He adds that he's seen people use meth inside the house and even saw someone get shot on the property. But it doesn't stop there. "A man actually used the 'number two' right there in front of that bush coming down the street," says Bogard.
Eyewitness News checked with deputy building commissioner Ron Beane. He says vacant properties cause a lot of problems across the city.
"A vacant home is a magnet for all kinds of issues," says Beane, adding that it's hard to tell just how many vacant homes are in the city. "There are over a thousand homes that we have structure cases on, where we've identified issues and have notified owners of repairs that need to be done. But as far as how many are vacant we don't know."
When owners fall short of making a property healthy and safe, it comes with a price -- and it's taxpayers who foot the bill. "That's what we pay our taxes for," says Beane. "For the city to take care of those issues that aren't taken care of by the owner, so the whole community doesn't have to suffer from that."
Bogard reported the vacant property near his home to the Building Commission because he says it's unsafe. "If you went up trick-or-treating right now, there's glass that would sliver off a kid's arm," says Bogard, pointing to a broken window. "We just want a nice neighborhood and a safe neighborhood and we don't want anything like this in our neighborhood."
Addressing these complaints can be a lengthy process. The property next to Bogard is currently tied up in litigation. Until those issues are resolved, the property will remain as-is.
The city recommends residents call the Building Commission to report unsafe or unhealthy conditions at any home, including abandoned and vacant properties, so it can start the process of assessing and addressing any issues.
"We got homeless people, drug addicts, prostitution -- you name it, it's been in that house," says Bogard. He adds that he's seen people use meth inside the house and even saw someone get shot on the property. But it doesn't stop there. "A man actually used the 'number two' right there in front of that bush coming down the street," says Bogard.
Eyewitness News checked with deputy building commissioner Ron Beane. He says vacant properties cause a lot of problems across the city.
"A vacant home is a magnet for all kinds of issues," says Beane, adding that it's hard to tell just how many vacant homes are in the city. "There are over a thousand homes that we have structure cases on, where we've identified issues and have notified owners of repairs that need to be done. But as far as how many are vacant we don't know."
When owners fall short of making a property healthy and safe, it comes with a price -- and it's taxpayers who foot the bill. "That's what we pay our taxes for," says Beane. "For the city to take care of those issues that aren't taken care of by the owner, so the whole community doesn't have to suffer from that."
Bogard reported the vacant property near his home to the Building Commission because he says it's unsafe. "If you went up trick-or-treating right now, there's glass that would sliver off a kid's arm," says Bogard, pointing to a broken window. "We just want a nice neighborhood and a safe neighborhood and we don't want anything like this in our neighborhood."
Addressing these complaints can be a lengthy process. The property next to Bogard is currently tied up in litigation. Until those issues are resolved, the property will remain as-is.
The city recommends residents call the Building Commission to report unsafe or unhealthy conditions at any home, including abandoned and vacant properties, so it can start the process of assessing and addressing any issues.
