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Council orders inspections, delays one demolition while owners seek funding
Summary
After a public hearing on multiple substandard properties, the council gave Thomas T. Gonzales Jr. until the second April meeting to report loan status and a 90‑day work projection, and gave other property owners 30 days to demo or abate where no plan was presented.
The Levelland City Council closed a public hearing on multiple substandard structures and issued orders directing different next steps depending on owner responses and site conditions.
Eli (city staff) presented updates on a list of properties that had been processed through the housing standards commission. Several properties were already secured or in active repair. For 1710 Austin Street — Lot 6, Block 3, Williams Subdivision — owner Thomas T. Gonzales Jr. appeared and asked for six months to complete repairs; Gonzales said he is seeking loan approval and insurance and pledged to complete the work within six months if funded.
Council instead directed Gonzales to provide an update to inspections staff by the city’s second April meeting (April 21) — either in person or electronically — showing loan status and a work-projection for the next 90 days. Council voted to revisit the Austin Street property at that meeting; the motion carried with no recorded opposition.
For the remaining properties reviewed at the public hearing — including 208 Fifth Street; 401 Avenue B (mobile home); 1624 Houston; 301 Avenue C; 222 Avenue T Space 18; 206 Ninth Street; 1618 Lee Street; 1312 Tenth Street and others listed on the agenda — council moved to give property owners 30 days to demolish, abate or otherwise bring structures into compliance when owners had not presented an active plan. Staff noted some owners had already begun work or intended to demolish; in a number of cases owners were deceased or ownership titles were unclear, and staff said legal or title issues had delayed remedial action.
Eli reported partial work completed at 116 Walnut Street (trim and window trim) with additional items due by March–April per an agreed scope of work. For some mobile homes the owners told staff they intended to demolish privately; council indicated the typical window for owner-performed demolition is 30 days when owners are actively engaged.
Council described expectations for owners to keep inspections staff updated. Where owners fail to act within the new deadlines, staff said the city will proceed with boarding, abatement or demolition as authorized in previously issued orders.
No specific demolition contractors, total cost estimates, or detailed timelines beyond the 30‑day and April-reporting directions were included in council’s motion; staff will return to council with further updates as compliance activity proceeds.
