Historic Chadwick building coming down after fire

Workers are preparing to tear down what's left of a vacant historic downtown apartment building after a two-alarm fire this morning. The Chadwick, built in 1925 during an apartment building boom spurred by the city's burgeoning automotive and railroad industries, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. But the building had become a neighborhood eyesore covered with graffiti. Firefighters battled at least two fires in the last 10 years before the one that ultimately claimed the building at the northeast corner of Pennsylvania and 10th streets, said IFD spokeswoman Rita Burris. Property records show the owner since 1997 has been Chadwick Partners Inc. of Noblesville. The 31,000-square-foot building had been listed for sale as a "great redevelopment opportunity" at an asking price of $500,000. Firefighters valued the loss at $750,000. The crane to demolish the building is on the way from Anderson, which means streets around the structure likely will be closed all day, Burris said.