South Bend board approves advertising demolition bids for 120‑year‑old Lafayette Building while still seeking preservation proposals

ABC57 reports the South Bend Board of Public Works voted Oct. 27, 2026, to advertise bids to demolish the roughly 120‑year‑old Lafayette Building, which suffered a massive fire in June.

City officials quoted by ABC57 said the demolition‑advertising vote was only a procedural step and not a final decision; Joseph Molnar, deputy director for the Department of Community Investment, told the outlet the city is still hoping a developer or proposal can be found to save the historic building and that the advertising step would let the city move forward without waiting an additional two months in the demolition process if no preservation option appears.

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