Mahencha Building (Gary, Indiana)

 interesting place, historical layer / disappeared object

www.preserveindiana.com/pixpages/nw_ind/Mahencha.htm

The Mahencha Building at 1900 W. 5th Ave was a 31-unit building on the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Arthur St., across from Horace Mann high-school. Former Gary Mayor Richard G. Hatcher owned this building, and at least for a time, owed $20,923 in back taxes on it, according to an Oct 1990 Post Tribune article. The building is vacant and boarded up. Broken glass and bottles litter the grounds. Hatcher had purchased the property in 1978.

It is an imposing building, clad in red brick with white terra cotta trim, canvas awnings (at one time) and wrought iron balconies. It is asymmetrical with a tower-like structure off on one side.

A Crown Point architect says it is a combination of styles. The curved, red clay roof tiles show a southwest influence and the low-pitched hipped roof, square tower and center stairway with an "eyebrow" above it are some elements of the Italianate style.