Santa Fe County seeks clean-and-lien after fire-damaged house at 2133 Paseo; hearing officer to rule within five working days

Santa Fe County presented evidence at an administrative nuisance hearing seeking a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners that the county proceed with clean-and-lien enforcement at 2133 Paseo Mel Senada, saying the two-story residence was fire-damaged, uninhabitable and remained littered with debris and inoperable vehicles.

The county’s case, presented by Joseph A. Martinez, Santa Fe County code enforcement, said inspections beginning June 2024 documented fire damage, lack of utilities and other conditions the county classifies under the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance and the county anti-litter ordinance. Martinez asked Hearing Officer John Ziegler to uphold the county’s findings and to recommend that the Board enact the clean-and-lien remedy outlined in the nuisance ordinance. Ziegler said he will issue a written decision within five working days.

Why this matters: County staff contends the site poses ongoing public-safety and nuisance risks—including repeated, unauthorized entry—and that prior notices and certified-mail letters were not received by the owner and were returned as unclaimed. The county asked for administrative enforcement because, it said, corrective work had not been completed after multiple inspections and a magistrate-court criminal complaint.

Evidence and timeline

Joseph Martinez said a complaint by neighbor Daniel (Dan) Chavez initiated the county investigation on June 3, 2024;…