Walter Piano demolition underway in Elkhart

ELKHART Its been in the works for years.

Now, demolition work has finally started on a huge vacant factory on Elkharts north side.

In recent years, the complex started to fall apart becoming a safety concern.

Then, there was a fire.

Neighbors say the demolition is an answer to their prayers.

This is the day, and we are finally here, and we are finally excited about, said Kristen Senne, who lives by the old Walter Piano building and is with the North Riverside Neighborhood Association.

Sennes group has been keeping an eye on the Walter Building property for several years.

We started making calls, several neighbors, including myself, have been calling the city for a number of years about it, Senne said. The factory, as its deterioriated, has contributed to the blighting of the neighborhood.

Elkhart officials were well aware of neighbors concerns and after legal wrangling with the buildings owner, are finally tearing down the 175,000 square foot structure.

Weve been looking at the site for a couple, three years, trying to figure out how to get the thing down, said city Brownfields Coordinator Denny Correl. The absentee owner issue was a real problem, but we finally made it to this point.

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Walter Piano demolition underway in Elkhart