DeLand City Council orders demolition of unsafe structure on Wood Street

The City of DeLand held a Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Demolition Hearing on April 24, 2025, focusing on properties deemed unsafe and in violation of city codes. The primary case discussed involved a property purchased by a respondent who claimed he was unaware of a demolition order issued in February 2025. The respondent stated that he had been informed of the hearing only a month prior and had been facing challenges with contractors for remodeling the property.

During the hearing, it was confirmed that the city had delivered notice of the condemnation order on March 6, 2025, and that the property had been previously found unsafe. The magistrate noted that despite the respondent's efforts to comply, the property remained in violation of city codes and was still classified as an unsafe structure.

As a result, the magistrate ordered the city to proceed with the demolition of the property, allowing the costs to be liened against it. The respondent was encouraged to discuss potential options with city officials to possibly manage the situation differently.

In a secondary case, the city addressed another property at 708 Wood Street, where the respondents were found in violation of city ordinances related to sanitary public nuisances. The property was also deemed unsafe, and the city recommended an order for demolition due to the lack of compliance with previous orders.

Overall, the hearing underscored the city's commitment to addressing unsafe structures and ensuring compliance with local codes, while also providing respondents an opportunity to rectify their situations. The next steps involve the city moving forward with the demolition process unless alternative arrangements are made by the property owners.