December 2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

13ARN DEMOLITION AT 50106 Bittersweet Ti -ad, Grange- IN 46530 My name is Timothy J. Sokol, my wife Linda Sokol, and I were the previous owner's of 50106 Bittersweet'i'mil, Granger IN 46530. We both owned and occupied the property with ow• 3 children for over 10 years. We originally purchased the property with interest to preserve and upgrade the interior and exterior to the original condition. During the time we lived there, we spent tens of thousands of dollars restoring and rehabilitating the property -The interior structure had been significantly altered, and the overall condition of the interior and exterior was considerably neglected. All of the original light fixtures were previously stripped From the house and replaced with cheap lighting. We decided to seek a state tax credit to assist with some the expense burden. We researched the history of the property and documented in a paper and submitted it to the state of Indiana for Historical Registration. More than two years after our initial application we were granted State Registration. The barn was one of our biggest concerns from the start. 'There were several large holes in the 4+ layers of roof and the structure looked compromised. It wasn't until after we purchased the property that we discovered the barn to be home to raccoons, squirrels, owls, bats and rats. I bought an 18,000 lb. man -lift for the sole intent of maintaining the barn roof as best as we could. Several times l attempted repair of 4 + layer roof. The roof should have torn off many years ago and replaced and the expense of waiting to do that at that time was enormous. 'rhe last quote I obtained in 2012 was for $36,000 and that didn't include tearing off the roof. I went on that roof several times to tarp and attempt to fix the damage. I tore off portions of it and replace the underlying wood structure. The problem only got worse because new areas of damage would form from the animals that infested the building. In my researched of the historical records of the property I found that the barn was constructed well over 120 years ago. The structure was very tall and heavy and was built for the purpose of harboring livestock, pigs and horses.'The foundation was made of fieldstone and at the time of our inheritance, we found the original foundation to be weakened and missing in many areas. The lower perimeter beam that the foundation supported was rotted be either animals, insects and water. (See pictures) Water has flooded the foundation over a period of many years creating a huge sinkhole. The interior had an enormous bat infestation and stunk with bat vermin with huge piles of guano everywhere. The bats were such a problem, that even the main home had a huge infestation in the attic and upper story walls that had to be addressed. The barn was an inherited liability from day one. Our realtor told us this and wouldn't even go in the barn because of a safety concerns. 'Che decision of what to