Gary, IUN disagree over building demolition
By Christin Nance Lazerus cnance@post-trib.com February 7, 2012 5:42PM
Scott Cianek, project manager with Dore & Associates Construction, Inc., (facing camera) talks with Benjamin Robinson, City of Gary Building Commissioner, at the demolition site of Tamarack Hall on the Indiana University Northwest campus in Gary, Ind. Tuesday February 7, 2012. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 9, 2012 8:13AM
GARY — Officials from the city and Indiana University Northwest are trying to resolve a dispute regarding whether the Tamarack Hall demolition has the appropriate permits.
Building commissioner Benjamin Robinson arrived at the scene Tuesday morning ready to post a notice stopping work. About half of the building has been torn down and contractors were picking up debris and placing it into a large container. Robinson held off stopping the crew’s work until the city and university officials met later on Tuesday.
Tamarack Hall sustained major damage when the Little Calumet River flooded in September 2008, and the university received $33 million in state funding to replace it.
Robinson said the work violated several city ordinances: IUN did not have a building permit and the contractor — Dore & Associates Contracting Inc. of Bay City, Mich. — was not licensed, bonded and insured in the city. According to the city’s Building Department website: “All licensed contractors are required to pull a permit for all properties before doing any work within the City of Gary. When the contractor is doing work on commercial properties and making structural changes a set of plans are to be sent to Indianapolis for approval. Once approved and stamped in Indianapolis a copy is to be given to the Building Department for approval to receive a permit.”
John Sarber, who manages construction projects for IU’s northern regional campuses, didn’t want to comment on whether the university had the necessary permits or if they were exempt from the regulations. Indiana University Northwest spokesman Christopher Sheid said work at the site started recently. Sheid referred most other questions about permitting to Indiana University spokesman Mark Land, who did not return a call for comment.
After the meeting, Robinson said city attorney Alger Boswell was conducting further research on the city’s ordinances to determine proper compliance.
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