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Austin commission orders demolition of fire‑damaged St. John Tabernacle after owner says restoration unaffordable
Summary
The Building and Standards Commission voted 7–0 to replace a 2024 repair order with a demolition order for the Tabernacle at 7501 Blessing Ave., freezing penalty interest and directing fencing and demolition if the owner does not comply within the set timeframes.
The Building and Standards Commission on Oct. 8 ordered demolition of the long‑vacant Tabernacle at 7501 Blessing Avenue, finding the fire‑damaged property dangerous and substandard and concluding the earlier repair order had not produced compliance.
City investigator Farrah Presley told commissioners the civic‑use property has had multiple fires and repeated trespassing incidents, and that no building permit had been obtained since the commission’s August 2024 repair order. Presley said photographs in the staff packet show severe fire damage, missing wall components and repeated removal of boards used to secure the buildings.
The commission’s action replaces the repair order the board…
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