Owner’s representative reports roof repairs at duplex; board extends compliance deadline to Oct. 6

The Grand Prairie Building Advisory and Appeals Board on Aug. 4 heard a progress report on a dangerous-structure order for 132 and 134 Northeast Ninth Street and extended the compliance deadline to Oct. 6, 2025.

Staff told the board the duplex had been the subject of earlier hearings after a code officer observed broken windows, trash and people coming and going from a van parked in the driveway. The city’s adopted orders require the structure to be repaired, removed or demolished in accordance with the Grand Prairie code of ordinances and to submit monthly progress reports to code compliance until the work is complete.

Felipe Espinosa, who said he is managing the property for his sister and the family’s legal owner, told the board the roof was repaired on the prior Saturday and called the work “a huge morale boost for our family.” He said the family has applied for loans and is waiting on contractor estimates for electrical, plumbing and interior repairs and expected contractors to submit permit applications.

Staff confirmed the structure is listed under the Grand Prairie Code of Ordinances as a substandard and dangerous structure (Grand Prairie Code of Ordinances Sections 29.18 and 29.28) and reiterated the city’s authority to secure, repair, remove or demolish the structure or assess civil penalties and liens if the owner does not comply.

Board members discussed whether the documentation on file constituted a sufficiently detailed plan to allow an extension beyond the order's original timeframe. The board voted unanimously to amend the order so the owner’s representative must submit a progress report by the board's Sept. 10 meeting and present a more detailed contractor-based completion plan at the Oct. 6 meeting; all other orders remain in effect.

Action on the motion was recorded as a 7-0 vote in favor of the extension and the reporting schedule.

Board members and staff said building inspections and permit review will determine what additional engineering or repair documentation is required, and that a final, inspected sign-off will be needed to remove the structure from the city's enforcement list.

The board asked the owner's representative to continue monthly progress reports to code compliance and noted that if the owner failed to keep the property secured the city could take action at the owner's expense.