Hurst council conditionally abates demolition order for 916 Zelda Drive, requires progress reports

The Hurst City Council conditionally abated its July 2025 demolition order for a vacant house at 916 Zelda Drive (Glenview Addition Block 7 Lot 14), allowing owner Monica Chavez additional time to complete a rehabilitation on an eight-week schedule if she appears at every regular council meeting with progress reports. The abatement is conditioned to expire or be reconsidered at the Sept. 9 council meeting.

Monica Chavez told the council she purchased the property in June, has invested “a little bit over $100,000” (and later said “it's been more”), and asked for a six- to eight-week extension to finish work. Chavez said contractor and personal hardships delayed progress, that she has engaged a contractor identified as Alex and an investor named Antonio Duran to complete the project, and that she is committed to finishing the rehabilitation.

Tanya Wilson, the city’s building official, summarized staff’s enforcement history: the case began in May, staff issued rectification permits and stop-work orders at various times, a rectification permit issued in December expired for lack of activity and was revoked with staff abating certain violations and charging costs to the property. Wilson said Ms. Chavez submitted incomplete permit applications in earlier months and that full, approvable plans were only received in late June; staff issued permits in late June/early July but inspectors continued to find work done without permits at times. Wilson said the property required repeated inspections — the chart shown to council reflected many additional site visits above a typical case — and that some work done without permits (including electrical work) resulted in areas that must be exposed for inspection and, in one instance, removed.

Council members expressed sympathy for Chavez’s personal situation but also concern about the extended timeline of noncompliance. Councilman Meek and others emphasized the city’s dilemma: granting more time risks leaving the property unfinished later while denying more time could lead to immediate demolition. The council adopted a motion to abate the demolition order to the Sept. 9 meeting, conditioned on the owner’s appearing at each regular council meeting during that period to provide verified progress updates; staff (including Tanya Wilson) will appear at the council’s August meetings to report on progress. A voice vote carried the motion.