SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow announced Wednesday that a settlement agreement has been reached with his office and Karl King Holdings LLC, the owner of South Bend's Karl King Tower. This comes after his office sent legal demands following weeks of no heat for most residents in the frigid winter temperatures. 

Provisions of the agreement include giving all residents a 20 percent credit on their rent, which will be applied to March 2026 rent and must be confirmed by the township by April 1. Karl King Holdings LLC has also agreed to a three-year period of "self-monitoring and mandatory reporting," meaning the property owners must report any health or safety issues affecting 50 percent or more of the building to the township within 72 hours. Finally, Portage Township has been granted inspection rights, meaning staff can conduct unannounced inspections during the three-year monitoring period. 

In exchange, Portage Township waived its claim for restitution from the property owners. 

Upon discovering that only 2 of the building's 12 boilers were working in December, Critchlow also complained to the Indiana Attorney General's Office, which opened its own investigation. However, Critchlow says successful implementation of the settlement agreement would be a condition for the AG's office to close its investigation.