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City explains demolition process after resident questions $209,900 contract for 711 W. Third
Summary
Council reviewed and moved a $209,900 contract for demolition of 711 West Third Street; staff explained the city demolishes buildings declared public hazards and then assesses costs back to the property owner.
The Davenport City Council moved forward with a $209,900 contract to demolish 711 West Third Street and answered public questions about why the city pays for demolition and whether property owners reimburse the city.
Judith Lee of the Second Ward asked why the city would approve more than $200,000 in demolition costs for a building purchased in 2023 for $65,000 and later assessed at $309,230. She asked whether the owner, K. Lacandro Management LLC, would reimburse the city and whether the owner could keep the property or profit from it after demolition.
Rich Oswald, Development and Neighborhood Services, explained the city's process: when the fire marshal or building official declares a structure a public hazard, the property owner is required to demolish it. If the owner cannot or does not, the city will demolish the building and then assess the demolition costs against the property as a special assessment. “Until the money is paid back, usually those [properties] do not sell,” Oswald said. He said the city does not typically demolish buildings this large but proceeded because the building was declared a public hazard.
The contract award to Valley Construction Company of Rock Island, Illinois, for $209,900 was listed on the public-works agenda and advanced without further public opposition at the meeting.
Why this matters: the explanation clarifies the city’s legal and administrative process for hazard demolitions and that costs are typically assessed back to the property owner rather than absorbed permanently by taxpayers.
What was not decided: the transcript does not report whether and when the city will recover the demolition costs from the property owner or whether the owner has contested the declaration prior to the meeting.
Next steps: the demolition contract will proceed per the procurement action and the city will pursue assessment of costs to the property as provided by local code and the chief building official’s authority.
