12-22-58 Council Meeting Minutes

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3i REGULAR MEETING REPORT OF BUILDING DEPARTMENT DECEMBER 22, 1958 Common Council of the Civil City of South Bend, Indiana December 18, 1958 Gentlemen: At your last regular meeting on December 15, you passed several resolutions requesting that I submit a report of Building Department activity in slum clearance during the past two and one -half years. Following is that report. During the current year to this date, this Department has made detailed inspections of 249 buildings and has accom- plished, has ordered, or will order, action to be taken on all of them. In addition to those 249, we called at more than 30 other buildings reported by citizens to be sub - standard and found them satisfactory. In addition to the initial inspection, innumerable recalls were made to check on progress toward completion of our orders. Following is a breakdown showing the present status of the 249 properties inspected. Condemned and demolition complete 61 Condemned and demolition in progress 6 Condemned and involved in litigation (appeal, law -suit, etc.) 12 Repairs ordered and complete 22 Repairs ordered and started 33 Repairs ordered and pending (extension of time, etc.) 13 Vacated for various reasons (garage dwellings - pending repairs -et.) 35 No action ordered beacuse located in Redevelopment (Sample Street Area) 6 Repairs ordered and ignored by owners, requiring further action by us. 14 Inspected, but no orders issued as yet. 46 Total properties Inspected 249 In 1957, 22 properties were inspected; 2 were repaired; and 4 were carried into the current year for decisive action. The other 16 properties were demolished. Our records are not too good for 1956, but as nearly as we can tell 14 buildings were condemned and demolished. It is important to note here, that the great difference in accomplishment this year as compared to other years was not accidental. Our great success in 1958 can be attributed to the following factors: 1. We did- - -not follow procedures as outlined in Ordinance #3989, but proceeded in accord with those enabling State statutes concerned with elimination of sub - standard buildings. 2. Two afternoons each week were set aside by all inspection departments (Electrical, Building, Heating, Fire, and Sanitation) for inspection of sub - standard buildings. Cooperation from other departments was ideal since each filed detailed reports with me for final action. No department issued orders for elimination of sub - standard conditions until they had first re- ferred the matter to us. 3. One man (Mr. John Grabarz) from this office was directed by me to devote two afternoons each week for the inspection of substandard buildings and to devote the two forenoons of those same days to paper work necessary to the elimination of sub - standard conditions found. He has done an excellent job. We are proud that we have done so much in 1958, but our report for 1959 should be even better. A new inspector will be added to our staff at the first of the year, and Mr. Grabarz will devote his full time to his duties ad Director of the Building Department's "Division of Sub - Standard Buildings ". Even though other inspectors may not be able to perform their assigned duties if they spend more than two afternoons a week on slum clearance. Mr. Grabarz is well qualified to make many inspections and to accomplish the desired action without their continual assistance. In five years, slum clearance in South Bend has developed from virtually nothing to the results shown in this report. I can assure you that the Building Department will continue its attempt to improve its effectiveness in all those duties which we are expected to perform. I have purposely neglected to include in this °report the names of slum owners. Time and facilities made it impossibl for me to provide that information to you here. However, I invite you, at your convenience, to examine my files to obtain that information if you so desire. And I sincerely solicit you confidence and your support in our efforts to render slum ownership unprofitable in South Bend. I trust that the above will satisfactorily answer any questions you may have had, but if you should desire further information, I will be happy to furnish it. Sincerely yours, /s/ Verner L. Lane VERNER L. LANE VLL:bb Building Commissioner Councilman Hahn made a motion that the report be accepted and placed on file. Councilman Kroll seconded the motion. Motion carried. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY: Mr. Irving J. Smith, City Attorney, reported on the referral in regard to drawing an Ordinance governing motor scotters. He stated that he had examined the Ordinance which had been passed by the Aurura, Illinois Common Council. He further stated that our State Statutes covered this matter and he, therefore, would not feel it necessary to draw another Ordinance. ORDINANCE NO. 4253 - - -58 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 3702, AS AMENDED, WHICH ORDINANCE IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA (Lincolnway West) Mr. Christman requested permission to pass his vote. Mr. R.J.Nymberg stated they are now in accord with the Ordinance The Ordinance was given third reading and passed by a roll call vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays,