El Paso commission grants owner 90 days to demolish dilapidated accessory structures at 12923 Hueco Sands Circle

The Building and Standards Commission of the City of El Paso on July 24 amended an order to give the owner of 12923 Hueco Sands Circle 90 days to demolish two accessory structures and secure a water tank on the lot.

City property maintenance and housing inspector Ruben Cueto told the commission both accessory structures — built about 1994 with CMU walls and wood-frame roofs and totaling about 594 square feet — were in “severe disrepair and dilapidated” condition, with one structure missing a wall and the other sustaining significant fire damage. Cueto said both structures were unsecured, filled with combustible materials and debris, and had been the subject of prior enforcement: “There have been 6 PD code compliance cases, 1 fire investigation by the Clint Fire Department, and 2 property maintenance and zoning cases at the property since 2018.”

The department recommended the commission find the accessory structures substandard and unfit for habitation or use, revoke any certificate of occupancy, order demolition within 30 days, require the water tank to be secured within 30 days, and clear the premises of weeds, trash and debris. Cueto also reported certified notices of violation and of the July 24 public hearing were mailed to the owner and interested parties in July 2025 and that no taxes were owed as of June and July 2025.

The owner’s representative submitted an email asking to move the hearing and requesting 30–45 days to complete demolition, attaching a signed contract between EP Shalom Management and Border Demolition and an agreement with A & E for an asbestos survey. When the owner reached the meeting by phone, he identified himself as Elliot Berg and described efforts to obtain bids, sign a demolition contract, and secure an asbestos survey required before a demolition permit: “Our goal is to have everything demoed and scraped in the next 30 days,” Berg said, but he requested the commission avoid issuing an order that he said could “cloud the title” and asked instead for additional time or a postponement until the next meeting so documentation could be recorded to satisfy potential lenders.

Commissioners discussed options including postponement to the next meeting, issuing the order but granting a longer compliance period, or deleting the item (which would require restarting notices and staff work). Commissioner Nathan Walsh (speaking from his recollection of prior visits) urged prompt action, citing safety concerns about a structure with two missing walls and noting prior demolition work after a large fire. Other commissioners indicated they wanted to preserve the city’s enforcement authority while allowing the owner time to complete the contractor-driven demolition. The commission ultimately amended the order to grant the applicant 90 days to comply with demolition of the structures.

Staff clarified that if the owner completes demolition within the granted period, the city would inspect and issue a letter certifying compliance that the owner could record to address title concerns. Staff also noted that an asbestos survey and state-required waiting periods (a 10-day period referenced by staff) could extend a contractor’s timeline.

The commission’s action preserves city enforcement authority while giving the owner a 90-day compliance window and a path to a post-demolition compliance letter for title clearance.