The city of Valparaiso
may take possession soon of a 10-acre shovel-ready development site. All it
would have to do is demolish the former Natural Ovens Bakery dome.
The city's
Redevelopment Commission tentatively has $332,500 in its draft budget for 2014
for the demolition on the industrial site on Mariposa Drive in the Eastport
Centre industrial park. A final budget won't be approved until January.
...
A total of $1.38
million in back taxes and penalties is owed, if it is paid off by the end of
the day Oct. 28, Porter County Treasurer Michael Bucko said. If not redeemed,
it will be one of several hundred properties put up for tax sale Oct. 29, and
the price jumps to $1.46 million as the second half of the 2013 taxes are added.
If no offer is made to
cover the total amount owed, it will be turned over to the Porter County Board
of Commissioners, and Valparaiso already has let it be known it would be
interested in having it deeded to the city. City Attorney Patrick Lyp said turning
tax delinquent properties over to the local taxing body is common in Lake
County but rare in Porter County.
The building has been
mostly vacant for about eight years. It was once rated by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency as earthquake proof and capable of withstanding the strongest
tornadoes.
Redevelopment
Commission Executive Director Stuart Summers said it is in bad shape now
because of neglect with "significant water leakage" that makes it
unsuitable for rehabilitation and reuse.
"We hope to sell
it and get the property back on the tax rolls," Summers said.
