Sugar Land commission finds house at 2627 Ferry Landing unsafe; sets repair, demolition and security deadlines

SUGAR LAND, Texas — The Sugar Land Building Standards Commission on June 11 found the house at 2627 Ferry Landing unsafe and ordered the property vacated and secured, giving owners, lienholders or heirs a series of deadlines for repair or demolition.

The commission voted to declare the structure a “dangerous” building under the city code after staff presented photos and inspection findings that included a fallen tree leaning on the roof, separated brick facades, interior collapse of drywall and signs of vermin, along with disconnected utilities. Commission members approved staff recommendations for securing the site and timelines for engineering submittals, permits and possible demolition.

The vote follows city inspections beginning in late 2022 and multiple re‑inspections in 2023–2024. City staff told commissioners that CenterPoint disconnected electrical service in February 2023 and water service through the city was disconnected in November 2022; staff also reported three liens filed by The Highlands homeowners association totaling $2,690.17. Staff said the recorded property owner died in 2021 and the estate has not been probated, complicating efforts to identify a responsible party.

City staff described interior and exterior conditions observed during warrants and inspections in April and May 2025. The deputy building official told commissioners the tree had punctured the roof, allowing water and insulation into living spaces and that structural separation — including a four‑inch gap between brick veneer and framing and vertical cracks through sheetrock — indicates foundation movement affecting the entire house. The staff presentation cited provisions of the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code and the City of Sugar Land Code of Ordinances in recommending the structure be declared unsafe.

Under the commission’s order: the property must remain vacant and secured; staff were directed to require the owner, mortgagee or lienholder either to retain a licensed structural engineer and obtain an approved construction permit by July 11, 2025, with stabilization and restoration of structural integrity completed per the engineer’s recommendations by Sept. 9, 2025, or to obtain a demolition permit and complete demolition by July 28, 2025. The commission set a compliance hearing for Aug. 13, 2025. Commissioners also required the property be secured against unauthorized entry within five days of the June 11 order.

Commissioners discussed feasibility of repair and staff said the city cannot determine whether the structure can be saved without an engineer’s prescriptive assessment and that significant work — including digging around the foundation and opening walls — would likely be needed. Staff told commissioners the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District lists the property market valuation at about $320,000.55; staff did not provide an independent cost estimate for repairs.

When commissioners asked whether the city would abate or demolish the structure if no one responded, staff said the city would proceed with abatement or demolition and place a lien on the property for costs if the commission so ordered. Staff confirmed the Highlands homeowners association is the recorded lienholder; the association did not appear or provide comment at the hearing.

The commission approved the staff recommendations by voice vote; the record did not include a roll‑call tally of individual votes. A compliance hearing is scheduled for Aug. 13, 2025, to review progress or next steps.

The hearing also included a routine approval of the commission’s Feb. 12, 2025 minutes earlier in the meeting.