The abandoned car wash at 2516 E. Center Street has had multiple code violations dating back to 2015.

WARSAW — The demolition order for the abandoned car wash at 2516 E. Center St,. was started after a representative of the property failed to appear at the second code enforcement hearing held this morning, Feb. 15.

The property, owned by Dash Mesh Properties, Granger, first appeared on the city’s radar in 2015 for various general nuisance violations including overgrown weeds. Since then, the car wash has remained abandoned and its condition has continued to worsen. Dana Hewitt, code enforcement officer, noticed the large sign starting to crack last August and now parts of the sign have begun to fall apart.

The car wash consists of three buildings, the manual washes, the automatic washes and a small shed. All buildings have been abandoned and neglected. Along with the broken sign, there are many broken windows and holes in various parts of siding and the roof.

Multiple letters have been sent to the owners of the property and delivered to the adjacent gas station, which is also owned by Dash Mesh Properties. No contact from the owners has been received by the city and this is the second code enforcement hearing they have failed to show up for.

“It appears this has gone on for quite some time,” said Hearing Officer Thomas Earhart.

Earhart ordered that a demolition order be started for the sign, automatic car wash, manual wash bays and the small shed. If there is no progress or communication on behalf of the property before the next hearing on April, 3, the demolition order will be enforced.

In other news:

• A hearing was held for the property at 812 E. Arthur St., owned by PC Properties & Rentals, Elkhart. The property is currently vacated but has an exposed roof, with insulation visible at some areas. The roof is being reshingled with an expected completion date of Feb. 26. The owner was advised to get a hold of a code enforcement officer once the repairs are completed.
• Work is continuing at the 519 N. Park Ave., property, owned by Faviola Duran. The homeowner was advised to set up an interior inspection and the property will be continued to the April 3 hearing.
• The property at 3521 Lake City Highway, owned by Hari Om Inc., Warsaw, has been making steady progress. The only thing left to be done is weather finishing on the recent updates. Once this is done, an inspection will be made and the property will be removed from the docket.
• Little progress has been made to the property at 1422 E. Main St., owned by Stephen and Princene Moore. The garage has been demolished but a deteriorated back stairway still remains as well as multiple interior violations. Earhart advised that if there is not “substantial progress” made before the April 3 hearing, a demolition order could begin.

Old gas pumps remain on site, which are an environmental hazard, and some of the manual wash bays remain open to the elements.