The Hobbs City Commission on Tuesday voted to begin a condemnation process for exterior stairwells and second‑floor access at the Hobbs Apartments, 2001 East Clinton, after city inspectors concluded stairwells were “ruined, damaged and dilapidated” and an occupant fell through a step on July 28. The motion to proceed with condemnation passed 5–2 (Smith, Fields, Calderon, Girth and Mayor Cobb voting yes; Mills and Penick voting no).

City staff told commissioners that inspectors found extensive corrosion and cracking in stairwells across the complex and that 35 stair assemblies were unsafe for regular use. “We are asking that the commission, deem that this property is ruined, damaged, dilapidated,” Jessica Silva, community services superintendent, told the commission during the presentation. The staff recommendation invoked the city’s condemnation authority and cited building, fire and model codes as the legal basis for action.

The commission’s action starts a process that, under city procedure discussed at the meeting, gives the owner a period to perform repairs but also allows the city to post notices and require remediation. Scott Shedd, building supervisor, and City Attorney representatives said staff would use the building, electrical and fire codes to review any temporary or long‑term repair plans the owner submits. Staff told the commission that the condemnation order provides the city up to 90 days (by ordinance/code process) for remediation steps and code review.

Monarch Properties, the management and ownership representative at the meeting, said it had already begun partial repairs and presented a phased plan to replace 35 stairways. Jack McGillivray, vice president of Monarch Properties, said the company had ordered and installed 200 concrete steps and contracted Noel Welding & Services to perform full replacement work under a signed contract for $820,589. “We have 200 new steps in place, and we have 79 additional ones on order,” McGillivray said, adding Monarch expects to replace stairways at a rate of about two stairways per week beginning Sept. 30 and to finish by Feb. 1, 2026.

Monarch and its representatives also told commissioners that the property’s operating cash position has been stressed for years and that capital replacements since 2022 totaled about $1.27 million from operating funds; Monarch reported an operating cash balance deficit on Aug. 1 of roughly $464,000. McGillivray said the owner of the property’s wrap note had committed funding to cover the stairway replacements.

City staff and the fire chief repeatedly emphasized risk to first responders and residents if stairwells remained in their present condition. Commissioners asked whether temporary repairs had engineering review; city staff and Monarch agreed that the city should review any temporary‑support designs or structural plans. Scott Shedd said permits and code review would be required for structural work; staff said they would visit the site the next morning to inspect repairs that Monarch said had been done without prior permit and to begin ongoing oversight.

Commissioners expressed concern about resident displacement. Staff estimated the buildings affected include about 63 units (staff said roughly 62 households), representing approximately 180–200 residents. Monarch’s phased plan would relocate small groups of residents briefly (Monarch said roughly eight residents at a time for about seven days while a stairway is replaced) rather than move all households at once. Commissioners requested staff return to the commission with biweekly updates on progress and displacements; the commission also authorized staff to work with Monarch to review temporary designs and to rescind condemnation if staff deems progress sufficient.

Mayor Cobb framed the vote as a difficult but necessary action to protect public safety. “We cannot leave this meeting without proceeding with the condemnation,” he said, urging staff to work with the property owner and to provide updates to the commission. The city will post notices on the condemned stairwells and proceed with the code‑driven remediation timeline while coordinating inspections and required permits.

The condemnation vote sets in motion a code enforcement process rather than immediate, wholesale eviction: staff said they cannot forcibly remove occupants, but condemned stairwells will be posted and staff will require remediation; if temporary measures are not acceptable, affected units may be vacated in stages for safety. The commission asked staff to identify local social‑service and housing resources to assist any households displaced during repairs and requested that staff report back frequently while remediation is underway.