City staff note two demolition requests, including voluntary condemnation by College Hills Church

City staff reported two properties on the council agenda Thursday for demolition actions, including one voluntary condemnation requested by a church.

The first property, 2842 Eighteenth Street, was described as sold to a new owner who plans to remove the building “within the next couple of weeks,” city staff said. Staff told council members the paperwork is complete and the new owner — identified in discussion as Bearded Properties — is expected to place equipment on site soon. Staff noted the property is in a residential zone and said it may be large enough to subdivide, which would be a planning question.

The second item was a voluntary condemnation request for a house the presenter said is owned by College Hills Church, located at an address given as 61320 Third Avenue East. The presenter said the church requested the property be torn down and that church representatives — referenced as Reverend Craig — were not expected to appear at the meeting. The presenter also said the church understands that if the city tears the structure down, the cost would be billed back to the church.

The discussion included procedural clarifications from staff that a new owner may remove a structure without presenting a development plan and that voluntary condemnations carry the financial responsibility back to the property owner or owner’s agent. No formal vote on these specific demolition requests is recorded in the transcript excerpt supplied.