The City of Bloomington is fining two homeowners for demolishing two historic buildings without first obtaining a permit.
A Monday news release indicates the city’s Planning and Transportation Department issued a Notice of Violation and an $83,000 fine to David Holdman and Judie Baker on Oct. 16.
City Corporation Counsel Philippa Guthrie says Holdman and Baker didn’t have a Certificate of Zoning Compliance (CZC) when they demolished a house and a garage at 523 W Seventh St. on or around Sept. 26.
She says the property had been making its way to City Council, where councilmembers would have voted on whether to designate it as historic property.
“Well, it had been reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission, and they had decided – voted to forward it to the council for possible designation," she says.
Guthrie says the property’s claim to historic designation was based on the fact that it was one of just a couple existing examples of a particular kind of house, dating back to the late 1800s.
Guthrie says Holdman had previously applied for a CZC, but it was never granted.
Holdman and Baker have until the end of the day Monday to appeal the notice and fine.
