When the scaffolding went up at 42 E. Washington St.,
so did the hopes of many of its neighbors. Would one of the city's oldest buildings, erected in 1880, finally get some
love after years of neglect? Might the Antonopoulos family, which has owned the building since the late 1970s, join with its
neighboring property owners in sprucing up a 
blighted stretch of downtown's main street? The answer: No. Instead, workers are removing
the wood panels (painted to resemble brick) that covered the windows and replacing them with concrete block. Dino Antonopoulos
says the family has no immediate plans for a renovation of the building, but he wanted to seal the windows to keep out moisture
after a few bricks fell from the façade. He plans to cover the blocks—and the rest of the brick façade—with
plaster. Smaller window holes would be cut as part of an eventual renovation. The building's upper floors are unusable
in the current state, but the first floor is home to a jewelry shop. Property Lines is a strong supporter of property rights
and bristles at knee-jerk NIMBYism. But if you abuse your child, the law says you lose your child. It's time for the city—or
someone who cares about the city—to intervene. Antonopoulos says he'd be willing to sell the building but would
not name his price. Whatever it is, the price of keeping him as a downtown property owner seems higher.
UPDATE: The city just posted a stop-work order. The building owner did not file for the required Regional Center Approval for changes to the façade or window openings. The Department of Metropolitan Development had given the building owner permission to repair the upper part of the façade because of safety concerns about falling brick. "We suggest all concrete block be removed ASAP and that you only do what was approved in the permit," Senior Planner Jeff York wrote in an e-mail to Antonopoulos.
(Staff photos / Cory Schouten)
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Eyesores do not constitute safety and health risks.
Eminent Domain is simply the right of a government agency to acquire private property for a specific reason or purpose for public benefit (not sure which particular ED law Cory is proposing, maybe economic development or "blight?"). Condemnation is the end result of a failure to reach an agreement on a price. Keep in mind that government is restricted in what it can offer an owner for their property, so negotiation can only go as far as fair market value and some other limitations allow (as a taxpayer protection). Failing to reach an agreement, condemnation is where a court determines the value.
Any news (like,"It's alive!) regarding Penn Centre?
"Might the Antonopoulos family, which has owned the building since the late 1970s, join with its neighboring property owners in sprucing up a blighted stretch of downtown's main street?"
42 is about 20' wide and 100' deep, hardly lending itself to anything beyond its original purpose - wholesale/retail. A restaurant doesn't need 5 stories - somebody tried a restaurant at 36, which tanked.
It could be office space I guess but it's probably so far gone and in need of major reno that it's not worth it.
Times change:
http://historicindianapolis.com/images/stories/features/then-now/Washington_1921_Indy_Star.jpg
Look at the foot traffic in that pic - I don't think they get that now.