The city is planning to condemn and demolish a vacant gas station along McClure Road at the owner’s expense.
The gas station, which is located at 1631 McClure Road, has been vacant for several years and has structural damage, including holes in the building’s roof line and damaged fencing, said Fred Barnett, Columbus code enforcement coordinator.
“The biggest issue there is the fact that nothing has been done with that building for years,” he said. “It has become a blight on the property, it’s unsafe and it falls under (section 36-7-9-4.5) of the Indiana Code.”
Under section 36-7-9-4.5, local governments can take “vigorous and disciplined action” to “ensure the proper maintenance and repair of vacant structures,” according to the Indiana Code. Local governments can enforce the code in many ways, including vacating, sealing off or demolishing an unsafe building.
Connections Unlimited LLC purchased the property for $40,000 in 2010, according to Bartholomew County property records. The company’s owner is Scott Brown, according to filings with the Indiana Secretary of State. Brown also operates Columbus Pawn on National Road.
“I really had no idea that (the city was) even doing that,” Brown said. “I’ve been trying to work with the city on redoing it. I had a meeting with (the City of Columbus–Bartholomew County Planning Department) last year, but they never got back with me.”
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
