Unsafe Buildings
1010 S Grant ST
- Case Date:
- 5/24/2025
Home is on double lot, was in tough shape inside and out; took two years to sell due to condition (initial asking 450,000 sold at 170,600) but finally sold a few months ago. Seller moved out; Neighbors have no info on who bought it but assume investors who will tear down to build 2 new homes. We are writing on behalf of all surrounding neighbors. City did arrange for lawn to finally be mowed (thank you!) but there are other more serious issues: 1. A backyard in ground pool no longer has required fencing in yard and pool cover has come off, water is green/moldy. No fencing hazard for wandering children playing, animals but we are concerned about mosquitoes, etc. 2. All sorts of large pieces of siding are flapping all day long in the wind. In storms the sound can be heard houses away and we all are waiting for the day they rip off and come flying down! 3. A fox family has nested in home - literally underneath 1010 from several entries all around (may be inside?) There are five in total (mom with 4 kits - all now full size) They play around pool area and romp in yard which is lovely to watch but now when it means they are leaving rabbit, bird, animal carcasses all over this property and in our yards. Wildlife told us that any neighbor can pay for trapping them as they won't move them. Seriously - all of us?! Fox family are now going after neighborhood cats, and having growling matches with dogs being walked, especially in the evening. Again, they are absolutely beautiful to watch but not the right habitat. Our daily lives are affected by their habitat next door. No owner name to contact for any of us to ask them to clean up carcasses which also now cause more insect issues - ticks, fleas, mosquito, flies in addition to moldy pool water. Some of us have started piling carcasses up in one place on property. The irony here is that the original owner was Bruce Jennings ... who worked in HAND Dept. for many years before passing away. :-( Thanks for anything you can do. Suggestion to add: New owners would be smart to reach out to all on the street to introduce themselves and help us learn more about their plans. We have lived here forty years; this block is a tight knit, close group of caring neighbors who are reasonable and look forward to new plans for 1010! Thank you. (we have a lot of photos if that is helpful but the narrative seems to sum it up)
Unsafe Buildings
348 W 11th ST
- Case Date:
- 5/22/2025
Subject: Formal Complaint and Damage Notification – Fallen Tree Incident at the corner of 700 Ashlynn Park Dr. & 300 W. 11th St. Bloomington, IN near Upland Brewery.
Dear City of Bloomington Officials,
We (Katherine & Renas Van Lue) are writing to formally report an incident involving a hazardous tree that resulted in significant damage to our parked vehicle. The tree in question, located near the sidewalk and parking meter of 700 Ashlynn Park Dr. & 300 W. 11th St. Bloomington, IN ( near Upland Brewery )dropped a large bough on our car on the night of May 21,2025 at approximately 10:40pm.
This location is marked by a clearly deteriorating and partially dead tree, which appears to have been neglected for a significant period. As seen in the attached daytime Google Maps Street View (screenshot dated 2025) and our personal photographs taken at the time of the incident as well as the next day during daylight hours, the tree shows clear signs of rot and structural instability. It is evident that this tree posed a danger to public safety and property, especially in an area with active parking meters and pedestrian traffic.
The incident has resulted in physical damage to our vehicle, which was legally parked by the curb at a paid meter. A section of the tree broke off and landed directly on the front of our car, causing not only structural damage but also significant inconvenience and cost. Two witnesses were at the scene. This situation could have easily led to personal injury had someone been present near the vehicle at the time.
Given the foreseeable and preventable nature of this hazard, we respectfully urge the City of Bloomington to:
1. Investigate the incident and confirm the ownership and maintenance responsibility of the tree in question.
2. Take immediate action to remove or professionally inspect the remaining portion of the tree to prevent further harm.
3. Reimburse or assist with damage-related expenses caused by the City’s negligence in maintaining public safety.
safety.
We would like to note that after the incident, we called police to report what had happened and police just said to contact our insurance instead. No police report was made. Our insurance company has been notified and a claim has been filed. We have not been given any estimates of the damage. We are awaiting for an adjuster to come and view the damage.
Please let me know the next steps in initiating a formal claim for property damage and what further documentation may be required. We are reachable by phone at 812-617-5016 or 773-564-3266 and by email which is provided at the top of this letter. We would appreciate timely communication.
Thank you for your attention to this serious safety matter. We hope the City takes swift and responsible action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Sincerely,
Katherine and Renas Van Lue
Unsafe Buildings
206 N Walnut ST
- Case Date:
- 5/21/2025
The board material that has been placed in front of the Princess Theatre during construction is warping and unsafe. An individual just fell all the way to the ground from tripping on the uneven surface at 1:45pm. The material also appears as if it would be very slick when wet. Very unsafe.
Unsafe Buildings
931 W 7th ST
- Case Date:
- 5/12/2025
Landlord does not keep retaining wall or vegetation off of sidewalk, making passage difficult for wheelchairs and baby strollers.
Unsafe Buildings
309 W Watson ST
- Case Date:
- 4/5/2025
looking for an update on ticket #200857. Has there been progress with this situation?
Unsafe Buildings
300 E 11th ST
- Case Date:
- 3/29/2025
A part of the old stone retaining wall on the Lincoln side of this lot is just about to collapse. It looks like it's leaning at a 46 degree angle. If anyone is sitting on it or just walking by when it does fall, someone is going to get sued.
Unsafe Buildings
2503 S Camden DR
- Case Date:
- 3/24/2025
There are homeless people living in makeshift structures in the backyard of this property. There is trash everywhere. There are vehicles everywhere. This needed to be addressed immediately. I don't know if the home is abandoned or what is going on. You can see all of this from the b line trail.
Unsafe Buildings
821 W 1st ST
- Case Date:
- 3/6/2025
Glass front porch door hanging off hinges and is potential projectile with high winds/storms. Also porch roof has many loose shingles and gutters are hanging- again potential projectiles to nearby houses, businesses, street and pedestrians.
Unsafe Buildings
1101 N Dunn ST
- Case Date:
- 2/25/2025
Unsafe Buildings
309 W Watson ST
- Case Date:
- 2/11/2025
I am writing as a concerned citizen who frequently drives by a property with multiple mobile homes in severe disrepair. Based on what I’ve seen and a report previously submitted to Bloomington’s UReport system, the conditions of at least one of these trailers are unlivable and pose serious health and safety risks.
Most recently, I noticed that the roof of the trailer facing Madison Street has caved in, making it completely uninhabitable. This is in addition to the already hazardous conditions, which include:
Lack of Basic Utilities: The trailer has no running water or gas for heating and cooking, making it unsafe, especially in extreme weather.
Severe Structural Damage: Floors are dangerously weak, with one section in the bathroom completely collapsed and covered only by a board. The bathtub is resting on bricks, which is unsafe.
Unsanitary Conditions: The resident has been forced to confine himself to a single room for warmth, using blankets to block off parts of the trailer. There is also ongoing animal waste inside the home, creating a serious health hazard.
Fire and Safety Risks: Makeshift heating methods and extreme clutter increase the risk of fire, endangering not just the resident but also the surrounding community.
According to the UReport complaint, the property owner is the resident’s wife, though she does not live there. She has publicly acknowledged these unsafe conditions but has failed to take responsibility for cleaning up the property or ensuring it meets basic health and safety standards. As the legal property owner, she is ultimately responsible for the upkeep of the land and any structures on it, including ensuring they meet health and safety codes.
These conditions appear to violate multiple housing and health codes, including:
Indiana Code Title 16, Article 41, Chapter 27, which requires property owners to maintain safe and habitable conditions for any mobile homes on their land. (Link)
410 Indiana Administrative Code 6-6, which holds property owners responsible for maintaining safe, sanitary conditions in mobile home communities. (Link)
Bloomington’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), Title 20, which governs the safety and upkeep of structures on private property within the city, including mobile homes.
I am not a legal or city expert, but based on my understanding, these regulations seem to apply to this situation, and I trust the city will review and enforce the appropriate codes. The property owner should be held accountable for the cleanup and remediation of these unsafe conditions.
Additionally, I believe the resident may require urgent assistance, and I hope the city can connect him with available resources to address his health and safety concerns.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Concerned Citizen]