Owner says mold remediation contractor is coordinating with roofer; board requires contractor to appear Sept. 10

The Building Advisory and Appeals Board on Aug. 4 extended the compliance timeline for a vacant, damaged home at 1605 Acosta Street and directed that a contractor (roofing or mold-remediation) appear at the Sept. 10 meeting with a detailed plan and dates for work.

Staff said the property remains in a state of disrepair: a persistent hole in the roof has caused interior collapse and moisture damage, the structure shows signs of vandalism and there is a mold-like substance inside. The property is listed under the city's substandard and dangerous structure ordinances and had previously been given orders to secure and remediate the structure.

Owner Jill Malone told the board she submitted an insurance claim and has been working with contractors. Malone said a contractor who visited Saturday advised that mold remediation should precede roofing because, she was told, mold left in place could affect a new roof. Malone said the contractor and a mold-remediation team visited the property and she expected a follow-up this week with remediation recommendations.

Board members said they would be willing to extend the order only if the owner produced a contractor-supplied plan and a firm date for remediation and roof replacement. One board member said mold remediation can be more expensive than roofing depending on the extent of contamination and that the board needed a clear contractor timeline rather than second-hand updates from the owner.

The board voted 7-0 to extend the order until Sept. 10 on the condition that a roofing contractor and/or mold-remediation company appear at that hearing with a detailed plan of action and dates for remediation and roof repair or replacement.