Owners granted 15 days to secure 1620 Ecolita Street; 60 days to close sale before demolition order

The board voted to give the current owners of 1620 Ecolita Street 15 days to secure and board the property and 60 days to finalize a pending sale before the board revisits a demolition order.

Staff had recommended a demolition order, saying the property is “abandoned for some years” and has evidence of people living inside, drug paraphernalia and structural hazards. Sergeant Padmora told the board the site “attracts a lot of individuals who have made this location their home” and described mattresses, lighters and needles found inside the structure.

Adriana Villavillas Madoff, speaking on behalf of the property owners, said her clients had installed a chain‑link fence that was later bent by people entering the site. She told the board her clients are negotiating a sale and expected to receive a written contract the day after the hearing; the buyer intends to demolish the structure after purchase. “I can send you the contract in writing,” Villavillas Madoff said.

City staff explained the timeline for an imposed demolition if the board issues an order: the property owner would have 30 days to appeal the order, staff would put the work out to bid and demolition would occur after court proceedings and contractor selection, a process staff estimated would take longer than 60 days in many cases.

Board members who spoke said the owner appeared to be acting in good faith and moved to allow time for the sale and securing of the site. One member explicitly proposed 15 days for boarding and cleanup and 60 days total for the transaction; the motion was seconded and carried. The board asked staff to return with an update at the July 9 meeting.

The action is procedural: staff’s demolition recommendation remains on the table if the owner or buyer does not meet the agreed time frames.