Pampa commission issues 30‑day demolition orders for three substandard homes; neighbor seeks to buy one lot

At a regular meeting of the Pampa City Commission, members closed public hearings and voted to issue 30‑day demolition orders for three substandard properties the city said pose blight and safety risks.

Code enforcement officer Jeff Kennedy described repeated complaints about the first property, identified in the public hearing record alternately as 422 South Finley and 422 South Bentley. "422 South Bentley. It's been pretty bad for quite some time, it's been kind of a blight in the area, in the neighborhood, we have quite a few complaints on it, people going in and out of it, staying in it over winter months, starting fires in it, and we've we've tried to work with people in the past about getting it down and working with them," Kennedy said. The commission voted to issue a 30‑day demolition order under the city’s form substandard building procedures.

For 601 North Wind, Kennedy told commissioners the house had a fire about three months earlier and "you can't salvage it. The whole center of it is burned out." He said code enforcement, with the fire marshal, recommended condemning the house and removing the structure. The commission closed the hearing and voted to issue a 30‑day demolition order.

At the hearing on 445 South Graham, Kennedy described an unsecured, boarded property with missing doors and windows, buckling floors and interior damage from roof leaks. Heather Uribe, who said she and her family bought the adjacent lot at 441 South Graham, told the commission they would like to purchase the neighboring parcel once it is cleared. "Hello. My name is Heather Uribe, and, we bought the property next door, and we'd like to have the property next to that. We bought 441 South Graham," Uribe said. City staff explained that if an owner cannot be located the city’s condemnation costs become a lien on the property; delinquent taxes can lead to sheriff’s sale and, if unsold, the property can be struck off to the city and later auctioned. Commissioners voted to issue a 30‑day demolition order for 445 South Graham.

Commissioners did not record individual roll-call votes in the meeting transcript; each motion was announced carried by voice vote. The three demolition orders direct staff to begin the city’s condemnation/demolition process and to place associated costs as liens on each property as allowed by local code.

Votes at a glance

• 30‑day demolition order for property identified as 422 South Finley/Bentley — adopted (motion carried by voice vote).

• 30‑day demolition order for 601 North Wind — adopted (motion carried by voice vote).

• 30‑day demolition order for 445 South Graham — adopted (motion carried by voice vote).

What happens next

City staff said they will begin the 30‑day process for condemnation and demolition, record any related liens, and, if an owner cannot be located, proceed with delinquent tax and property collection steps that may eventually allow the city to auction the lot. Staff also said they will share owner contact information with nearby property owners who expressed interest in purchasing property if and when ownership is identified.