Abilene Board orders demolitions and repair timelines in multiple condemnation cases

The Abilene Board of Building Standards on Aug. 6 declared multiple properties public nuisances and ordered owners either to demolish structures or to submit plans and meet staged repair deadlines.

City property maintenance inspector Ricky Wright presented eight cases to the board, and members voted on staff recommendations to declare the properties hazardous to public health, safety and welfare. In most cases the board ordered owners to demolish the structures or appeal to district court within 30 days; in several others the board gave owners 30 days to file a plan of action and 60 days to obtain rough-in inspections if milestones were met.

The actions reflect recurring conditions staff documented, including incomplete demolitions, missing roofs, structural hazards, hazardous electrical and plumbing conditions, and accumulated debris. "This is the foundation. The owner had done the demo themselves but this has been left behind and never finished up," Wright said when describing 2074 Kansas Street, case number 23-000562, where foundations, debris and a dilapidated fence remain.

Cases ordered for demolition or appeal within 30 days included 2074 Kansas Street (case 23-000562; owner listed as Juan Serta), 11026 Westlake Road (case 25-000871; owner listed as Cecil Wright), 1358 Cypress Street (case 25-001202; owner listed as KX Wealth Fund 1 LLC), and 2209 Fannin Street (case 25-002734; owner listed as Nanny Wilson, deceased). For each of those items the board voted to declare the property a public nuisance and to direct the owner to demolish the structure or file an appeal in district court within 30 calendar days, after which the city may demolish the property and bill the owner if the order is not complied with.

Several cases were handled instead with repair deadlines. At 6118 South Seventh Street (case 25-001320; owner listed as Duncan Contracting Services Lehi) property owner Blake Duncan spoke at the hearing and told the board he and contractors were seeking bids and planned to "close the building in" to secure it. Duncan told the board he expected to have the building secured within about 30 to 45 days and said he intended to market the property rather than complete a full interior build-out. The board ordered the owner to provide a plan of action, including a time frame and cost estimates, within 30 days; if that is done the owner has 60 days to obtain rough-in inspections and final inspections must be completed by the expiration of the permits.

At 2066 Belmont Street (case 25-002451; owner listed as Zona E. Otis) the board likewise ordered the owner to provide a 30-day plan of action and, upon meeting that requirement, 60 days to obtain rough-in inspections and final inspections by permit expiration. Wright told the board the structure had been secured by a city contractor and that the family was attempting to transfer title so they could sell the property.

A different outcome was recorded for 1134 Elm Street (case 25-002158; owner listed as Bobby Jean Gaines). The owner's representatives said a buyer who remodels houses had expressed interest; the board voted to table action and to revisit the matter at its next meeting pending the outcome of the pending sale, with instructions that staff be informed if a transaction occurs.

An owner appeal reached the board at 750 Beach Street (case 25-002748). Owner Denitra Johnson, who said she bought the property less than a year earlier and was working with contractors to obtain estimates, appealed the condemnation on the basis that the listing could be devalued. The board said value concerns were outside its authority and upheld the condemnation. The board then adopted the staff recommendation that the owner be ordered to provide a plan of action within 30 days, with 60 days to obtain rough-in inspections and final inspections to be completed by the expiration of permits.

All formal motions recorded at the meeting carried after roll calls in which board members voted in the affirmative. Where owners addressed the board, members clarified that an owner's pursuit of repairs or sale would not be prevented by the board's order but that the board could not consider property-value loss as the basis for overturning a condemnation.

The board closed the meeting after the last vote. Owners ordered to demolish were informed of the 30-day appeal window to district court; owners ordered to repair were given the 30/60 timeline spelled out in staff recommendations.

Votes at a glance

- Case 23-000562 (2074 Kansas St.; owner Juan Serta): declared a public nuisance; owner ordered to demolish or appeal to district court within 30 days (motion passed). - Case 25-000871 (11026 Westlake Rd.; owner Cecil Wright): declared a public nuisance; owner ordered to demolish or appeal to district court within 30 days (motion passed). - Case 25-001202 (1358 Cypress St.; owner KX Wealth Fund 1 LLC): declared a public nuisance; owner ordered to demolish or appeal to district court within 30 days (motion passed). - Case 25-001320 (6118 S. Seventh St.; owner Duncan Contracting Services Lehi): owner ordered to provide 30-day plan of action and cost estimates; 60 days to obtain rough-in inspections once plan submitted; final inspections by permit expiration (motion passed). - Case 25-002158 (1134 Elm St.; owner Bobby Jean Gaines): motion to table pending sale and revisit at next meeting (motion passed). - Case 25-002451 (2066 Belmont St.; owner Zona E. Otis): owner ordered to provide 30-day plan of action and cost estimates; 60 days to obtain rough-in inspections once plan submitted; final inspections by permit expiration (motion passed). - Case 25-002734 (2209 Fannin St.; owner Nanny Wilson, deceased): declared a public nuisance; owner ordered to demolish or appeal to district court within 30 days (motion passed). - Case 25-002748 (750 Beach St.; owner Denitra Johnson): board upheld the condemnation; owner ordered to provide 30-day plan of action and, if met, 60 days to obtain rough-in inspections and final inspections by permit expiration (motion passed).

Ending

Owners notified at the hearing were repeatedly told they may pursue repairs or sales while complying with the board's orders. Where the board ordered demolition, the deadline to seek judicial review is 30 calendar days from receipt of notice. The board adjourned after completing the listed items.