The Unsafe Building Commission on Tuesday affirmed an order to repair or remove the property at 400 South Twelfth Street after a structure fire in February.
The commission adopted the enforcement authority’s findings and agreed to the order recommended by staff to ensure repairs continue or, if they do not, to authorize removal.
Commission action matters because staff said the structure posed an ongoing hazard after the fire and the order establishes a timeline and enforcement authority for next steps.
Enforcement staff presented photographs showing extensive fire damage from February and more recent images with plywood and roofing work in progress. The staff recommendation was to affirm a repair-or-remove order and to continue weekly monitoring of the site.
A community member, Erica Martinez, testified during public comment that the building had been in poor condition before the fire, that residents had seen people enter and dump items on the lot, and that she wanted the property demolished. She also said she had attempted to obtain a fire report from the fire department and raised safety concerns about children on the lot.
Owner Kevin Barnes addressed the commission and said he owns the property and that repair work is underway. Barnes said the building has four furnaces and that he has been in regular contact with Mr. Henry, the enforcement authority. Barnes said roofing work and installation of windows and siding are in progress and asked to reserve his right to remain at the listed address if further orders are issued.
Commission members moved to adopt the enforcement authority’s statements as the commission’s findings and to affirm the recommended order. A motion and second were recorded and the chair called for the ayes; the motion carried.
Staff and commissioners told Barnes he should provide a timeline and continue coordinating with Mr. Henry; commissioners said the city will take the property down if repairs do not continue and the structure is not brought to code.
The commission’s action is administrative: it affirms the enforcement authority’s order and gives staff the authority to proceed under the commission’s enforcement process. No appeal had been filed at the time of the meeting; the commission did not set an exact date for removal in the meeting minutes.