Indiana region focuses on demolition projects

Demolition activity will be ramping up in Vigo County, Indiana, and its largest city Terre Haute, according to the mayor of Terre Haute and news reports from media outlets based in west central Indiana.

A Jan. 13, 2025, Facebook post from the office of Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun states that “demolition for the old Vigo County School Corporation Building and old police station” has been approved by the municipality.

The mayor’s office indicates a demolition company (not named in the post) “has a little under 90 days to complete both projects.”

Continues Mayor Sakbun’s office, “We always try to avoid demolition with a renovation-style construction project, but unfortunately the buildings’ shape and designs were not conducive to reuse.”

Recent media reports regarding the former school administration building do not refer to its dimensions, but photos show a four-story structure with a brick façade and an institutional appearance.

The mayor’s Facebook post indicates that structure and a nearby former police station will be replaced “within the next few years” by what he calls “multi-use projects.”

Continues Sakbun in his post, “We will be partnering with developers to bring a hotel project with a restaurant and commercial business component to the school corporation site. The old police station site will likely be an apartment complex as negotiations are still ongoing. These projects are predominantly funded by the private sector. Both will bring additional revenue to our community long term.”

Terre Haute-based TV stations  WTWO and WAWV jointly quote a commissioner in Vigo County, also based in Terre Haute, as saying the Vigo County Commission likewise is paying attention to the demolition of vacant and potentially unsafe buildings.

“This morning, we approved demolition bids for 10 properties throughout the county,” Commissioner Mark Clinkenbeard tells the TV stations. “We’re excited to get those things cleaned up and looking better for the neighborhoods.”