By Dave Stafford
The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON, Ind. —
Six homes built less than 15 years ago that have sat vacant for years will be renovated after the Anderson Board of Public Works on Tuesday approved bids totaling more than $362,000 for rehabilitation of the houses in or around the 1300 block of West 10th Street.
“For several years the houses have sat vacant, and unfortunately, it shows,” said Michelle Westermeir of the Anderson Community Development Department.
The houses, built in 1998 by a since-defunct nonprofit agency, recently returned to the city’s possession. Westermeir said all of the houses had been vandalized and in some cases air conditioning units and copper pipes had been torn out.
After their renovation, the houses will be put in the city’s homeownership program that seeks to assist first-time homeowners.
Westermeir said the city has $2.8 million in state neighborhood stabilization funds that must be allocated this month. The program, in conjunction with a similar program using direct federal dollars, is intended to stabilize neighborhoods hard-hit by foreclosures, abandoned properties and blighted houses, she said.
Because city policy allows contractors to have only two active renovation projects at once, only one of the six contracts awarded Tuesday went to the low bidder. It was for the renovation of 1302 W. 10th St. by Mel Sylvester Construction at a cost of $57,528.
Other renovation contracts were awarded as follows:
Assistant city attorney Evan Broderick said the policy is meant to spread public projects to various contractors and also prevents situations in which vendors might become overextended with too many projects under way at the same time.
Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com
