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Building commission orders demolition or sets deadlines for four unsafe properties
Summary
At the same meeting the commission set deadlines or ordered demolition for four properties: 616 Durant (90 days to demolish), 1523 Roberts (demolition ordered), 309 West Reagan (60 days for the new owner to present a plan), and 809 North Jackson (30 days to submit a rehab plan).
The Building and Standards Commission took action on multiple unsafe properties, voting to set deadlines for demolition or for property owners to produce rehabilitation plans.
Votes at a glance
- 616 Durant Street: Commission granted the property owner a 90-day deadline to complete demolition after the owner said he obtained a demolition permit the prior week. The owner, Willy Scott, told the commission delays were caused by scheduling and the holidays. A motion to give 90 days carried; Commissioner Wynne seconded the motion.
- 1523 Roberts: The commission voted to move forward with demolition for the owner-absent property after staff reported repeated failure to secure the building and no rehabilitation plan or demolition permit had been submitted. Commissioner Stevens made the motion to demolish; Commissioner Giles seconded; the motion carried.
- 309 West Reagan: The owner reported the property was sold on Jan. 16 and the buyer told the seller he intended to demolish. Staff reported continued deterioration and collapsed porch elements. The commission asked staff to contact the new owner and requested a rehabilitation plan; the commission gave staff 60 days to reach the new owner and instructed staff to notice the new owner for the March meeting.
- 809 North Jackson: The commission gave the new buyer 30 days to submit a rehabilitation plan and obtain permits after the buyer told commissioners she had recently closed on the property and planned to make roofing repairs. Owner Luis Alonzo Giron said he had been unable to act earlier for health and financial reasons; buyer Shinye Godwin said she had arranged materials and would seek a contractor. The commission voted to require a formal rehabilitation plan within 30 days and asked staff to review progress.
Procedural notes and enforcement
City staff repeatedly reminded property owners that rehabilitation requires a full plan and appropriate permits, including licensed electricians and contractors for non-owner-occupied work. For 616 Durant, staff confirmed the demolition permit had been issued and commissioners granted 90 days to complete the work; commissioners warned they expect the work to finish sooner if possible. For 309 West Reagan, commissioners postponed immediate action to allow staff to contact the new owner and seek a formal plan; staff expects to notice the new owner for the March meeting. For 809 North Jackson, the commission emphasized that an incremental demonstration of progress and a formal plan would be required to consider any further extensions.
Where owners appeared and committed to action, the commission frequently tied extensions to permit acquisition or a submitted rehabilitation plan; where owners did not appear or failed to show progress, the commission moved to order demolition.
No specific city demolition cost estimates or timelines for city-conducted demolition were presented in the hearing; staff referenced prior permit and extension history for several properties.
