Port Arthur board orders repairs, extensions and demolition notices for dozens of deteriorated properties

Port Arthur’s Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals on Wednesday approved a series of raise-and-repair orders and 30-day raze orders for dozens of properties the city has deemed unsafe or substandard.

The board granted time-limited repair orders to several owners seeking to fix structures and also declared a long list of properties ‘‘dangerous’’ and set 30-day orders for demolition. Staff said some property owners had completed work without permits and that formal inspections and plan reviews will be required before any changes are approved.

Why it matters: The board’s actions will determine whether property owners get additional time to bring buildings up to code or whether the city moves forward with demolitions. Several homeowners and estate representatives said they have potential buyers or funding, while staff emphasized inspections, permits and possible penalties for unpermitted work.

The most contested case involved a property at 4201 Ninth Avenue. The owner, identified in the record as Mister Otter, told the board he purchased the lot June 24 and repaired two portable buildings on it with the intent to operate an office/warehouse. Otter said staff initially told him the lot was residential and would not allow permits; staff later told the board that the file had been created as a residential case and that the buildings had been red‑tagged and scheduled for demolition in 2021. Otter said he did the repairs because a letter gave him 15 days to correct the condition. The board voted to issue a 90‑day raise‑and‑repair order for the property requiring Otter to submit plans, obtain the required plan reviews and permits, and complete a staff walk‑through and punch list; staff was directed to pursue penalties for any work done without permits.

Other items the board approved included:

- 736 Stillwell Boulevard (owner: Sandy Punarvasi): The owner said the dwelling was about 90% complete. The board approved a 30‑day raise‑and‑repair order for completion.

- 4320 Lewis Drive (owner listed as Vanessa Lizette Dela Rosa; represented at the hearing by Carlos Dela Rosa): The property has been in the city’s process since October 2022. The owners said they ran out of time and money but now have funds and asked for four to five months to finish. The board required the owner to apply for a building permit within 30 days and approved a 90‑day repair extension tied to plan review and permit submission.

- 848 Pecos Avenue (Inel Moore estate; represented by Beverly King): The board was told a squatter had been removed and the estate wants to sell or repair the house. Staff said taxes were in arrears ($11,631.32 as of June 2025). The board approved a four‑month raise‑and‑repair order to allow a walk‑through, permit applications and repairs.

- 2201 Memorial Boulevard (burned trailer and shed; owners Ivan J. Packard and Gabriel Orena): A family member said she and relatives had been hauling debris but had not pulled demolition permits. The board noted that Packard is reportedly deceased and that letters had also been sent to the trailer owner; it approved a 30‑day order to address the burned structure and clear debris.

Staff also read into the record a long list of addresses (43 properties organized into seven demolition groups) that the city is treating as dangerous structures and recommended 30‑day raze orders. The board approved the raze orders for that group.

Board and staff said the standard next steps are a staff walk‑through to prepare a punch list of code violations, plan review and permit submission, and inspections by electrical and plumbing inspectors before work resumes or occupancy is allowed. James Brown, the city’s environmental health supervisor, urged owners to secure vacant properties to prevent unauthorized re‑entry, asking, "Is there any way possible that we can have this property closed in until the work gets started?" The board agreed such boarding was appropriate to protect property and public safety.

The board voted on each motion by voice; specific roll call tallies were not recorded in the transcript. In cases where owners had performed work without permits, staff said citations or penalties may be pursued as part of the enforcement process.

Votes at a glance (key orders from the meeting):

- 4201 Ninth Avenue — 90‑day raise‑and‑repair order; owner must submit commercial/business plans and obtain plan reviews and permits; staff may pursue penalties for prior unpermitted work. (Agenda item No. 18)

- 736 Stillwell Boulevard — 30‑day raise‑and‑repair order. (Agenda item No. 15)

- 4320 Lewis Drive — Owner to apply for a building permit within 30 days; 90‑day repair extension contingent on plan review and permits. (Agenda item No. 10)

- 848 Pecos Avenue — 4‑month raise‑and‑repair order to permit walk‑through, permitting and repairs; taxes in arrears $11,631.32 (as noted by staff). (Agenda item No. 13)

- 2201 Memorial Boulevard — 30‑day raise order for burned trailer and shed; staff to follow up with property owner/estate. (Agenda item No. 11)

- Long list of 43 properties grouped for demolition — designated dangerous structures and issued 30‑day raze orders as read into the record by staff (addresses read during the meeting). (multiple agenda items)

Board members and staff emphasized that approvals were conditional on formal inspections, licensed contractors for required trades, and compliance with plan review. Vice Chairman Lawrence Baker presided in the absence of the chairman and the board accepted staff recommendations with motions and seconds for each order.

The board approved the minutes of its Feb. 20, 2025 meeting and heard a staff update that the city has demolished 36 structures since the last meeting and had seven new properties red‑tagged. The meeting concluded after the board finished the agenda and moved to adjourn.

Ending: Staff told owners to expect certified letters summarizing decisions and next steps; owners or their representatives who spoke said they will work with city staff to obtain permits, complete repairs or proceed with demolition as required.