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Board permits demolition of contributing house at 511A Camino San Nombre citing demolition-by-neglect
Summary
The board approved demolition of a contributing, severely deteriorated house at 511A Camino San Nombre after staff documented demolition-by-neglect and concluded the structure was unsafe and beyond reasonable repair.
The Historic District Review Board voted Sept. 9 to permit demolition of a contributing residential structure at 511A Camino San Nombre in the Downtown and East Side Historic District after staff and an engineer documented extensive deterioration and demolition by neglect. Staff reported the building is listed as contributing in the district and that the structure’s roof and fenestration have been missing for an extended period, with interior rubble and adobe walls eroded to varying heights.
Staff concluded that the building had been allowed to deteriorate to an extent that demolition met the exception and demolition criteria in the code and recommended approval. The applicant, Michael Krantz, told the board he and his wife love the district and that the house had been in poor condition when they came into contract. Public comment noted the sadness of seeing a neglected contributing building fall into ruin and urged attention to demolition‑by‑neglect issues.
After discussion the board found that the exception and demolition criteria were met and voted to approve demolition; the motion passed by roll call. The board and staff discussed demolition‑by‑neglect as a policy concern and suggested that code enforcement and neighbors report deteriorating structures earlier to allow remediation before a property becomes irreparable.
Why it matters: demolition of a contributing structure is a high‑impact outcome in a historic district; the board’s action was predicated on documentation of long‑term neglect and structural instability rather than a desire to remove intact historic fabric. The decision clears the lot for redevelopment subject to applicable zoning and building permits.
Next steps: staff will record the board’s findings and proceed with demolition permitting; any proposed replacement building will require separate review under the district code and any nonconforming setback/lot‑coverage issues will be reviewed by the relevant permitting authorities.
