The Board of Public Works and Safety on May 1 affirmed an order to remove a basement apartment at 4242 Johnson after inspectors found code violations and set status and hearing dates for multiple properties under rehabilitation or violation review. The board also confirmed a May 22 hearing for 51 Webb Street and said a city cleanup was scheduled after required notice.

Inspectors told the board they had "inspected the basement unit and found it to be out of compliance with current codes," citing a 6‑foot‑11‑inch ceiling height below the 7‑foot minimum, inadequate escape windows, a lack of permits for the basement apartment and insufficient fire separation between the first floor and the basement unit. Based on those findings, the inspections representative asked the board to affirm an order for removal; the chair recommended affirmation and a board member concurred.

The meeting also addressed a range of rehabilitation agreements and status dates. The board approved or set status dates for several properties that are part of the city's rehab program, including agreements or status settings for 6826–6828 Kennedy Avenue, 1476 Shell Street (status set for July 31), 6126 Harrison Avenue (first extension to July 31), and others. For 6333 Garfield, the owner reported that chimney work had been completed and the board set a status for May 22 and asked for estimates for remaining exterior work.

On 51 Webb Street, a member of the public said the property had been re‑noticed for demolition and was set for a May 22 hearing. The board noted that notice had been sent to the tax‑sale purchaser's attorney, and staff said a city cleanup would proceed after the 10‑day notice period; the public commenter urged neighbors to attend the May 22 hearing.

Why it matters: the board's actions advance the city's blight remediation and code compliance efforts, including a formal removal order for an unpermitted dwelling unit and continued use of rehabilitation agreements and status dates to track progress. Demolition scheduling and cleanup actions affect nearby residents and property safety.

Details and next steps: the removal order for the 4242 Johnson basement unit was affirmed and staff will proceed according to the order. Multiple properties will return to the board on the dates set (for example, July 31 and August 20, 2025) to report progress or receive further extensions. The 51 Webb demolition matter is set for a May 22 hearing; staff said they will perform a cleanup following the required notice period if no corrective action occurs.