Abilene board orders repairs or demolitions in six property cases

The Abilene Board of Building Standards on June 4 ordered owners of six properties to either file repair plans or face demolition, following staff presentations about fire damage, structural hazards and repeated neglect.

The board approved staff recommendations for four properties to provide a 30-day plan of action and 60 days to obtain rough-in inspections, and declared two long-vacant, heavily dilapidated properties public nuisances and ordered owners to demolish the structures or appeal to district court within 30 days.

City property maintenance inspector Ricky Wright presented staff findings on each case, citing examples of hazardous electrical wiring, structural failures, sanitation problems and vagrant activity. For 1325 Pecan Street, Wright said a November 2022 structure fire caused about $10,000 in damage and that the current owner had not completed repairs; staff recommended a 30/60 repair schedule. For 2426 South Second Street, Wright said a December 2023 fire caused about $15,000 in damage and that disrepair and vagrant activity continued despite prior notices. For several other properties staff recounted a timeline of condemnation notices, administrative search warrants used to inspect interiors and recorded condemnation affidavits at the county clerk.

Sunbu Funero, who spoke at the hearing about the 2426 South Second Street property, told…