Cedar Lake moving ahead on demolition of buildings
By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent November 23, 2011 12:04PM
Updated: November 25, 2011 12:12PM
CEDAR LAKE — Three buildings targeted by the unsafe building committee for demolition are moving closer to being razed.
Leftover funds from the demolition of the first building will be used to buy park equipment for a yet to be determined park location.
Town Council members recently approved proceeding with a quick claim deed on a dilapidated property at 13513 Dewey for demolition. Officials earlier this year had budgeted $52,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to raise the structure. Bids to demolish the building came in around $16,000, Ian Nicolini, town administrator said.
“We thought it would be considerably more than that. That leaves us with a sizeable amount leftover,” Nicolini said.
The remaining funds will be directed to the town’s parks. He said the park committee will review how and where to spend the money, though it must be used in a CDBG eligible area.
Demolition of a second building, a four-unit apartment complex at 14530 Wheeler St., is also moving forward. Officials approved a low bid of $15,987 to demolish the building from Thorn Meadow Estates LLC pending the renewal of its contractor’s license with the town of Cedar Lake. The business does hold a Lake County license.
Nicolini said the town will be using a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to pay of the work. It is working through the ownership process as well.
Officials also are in the process of identifying financing to raze the third structure, the former Jo Jo’s Restaurant at 10833 W. 133rd Ave.
“We did conduct a bid opening. We do have recorded actions and an order (to demolish),” Nicolini said. He said the town is working with the Redevelopment Commission to use tax increment financing district money to pay for the demolition.
Action Construction submitted the low bid of $21,650. Nicolini said the bid is valid for 60 days. He said officials may have to rebid the project if details are not finalized in time.
“It depends on where we are at in the process,” he said.
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