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Commission orders 90‑day rehabilitation window or demolition for 918 S. Saint Brains; owner says he was not notified
Summary
The Building and Standards Commission required the owner of 918 South Saint Brains to begin rehabilitation with permits within 90 days or face demolition; owner Federico Ontiveros said he had not received prior certified notices and is working with contractors.
The Building and Standards Commission on May 29 issued an order for the property at 918 South Saint Brains requiring rehabilitation to commence with permits within 90 days or demolition to occur, after staff presented findings that the structure was substandard and open to unwanted entry.
Inspector Villamontes told commissioners the single‑family brick dwelling, built around 1910 with roughly 2,701 square feet, had "substantial structural dilapidation" and was open to unwanted entry. The inspection report said the second floor was inspected and found unsafe to walk on in places, that there was exposed wiring and a missing front door replaced with plywood, and that wire mesh had been added to a load‑bearing wall. The inspector reported seven property maintenance and zoning cases and 16 EPPD code enforcement cases since 2011.
The department recommended that rehabilitation commence with issuance of permits within 90 days or that the structure be demolished within 90 days; it also recommended immediate securing of the property and revocation of the certificate of occupancy. The report noted that contact was made with owner Federico Ontiveros, who told staff he was working on rehabbing the property.
Owner Federico Ontiveros addressed the commission and said he had been trying to get permits and contractors; he disputed some aspects of the city's presentation and said he "never got communicated" and that he had left numerous messages trying to reach staff. Ontiveros said contractors had been contacted and asked for three to six months to begin work; staff said the commission could authorize 90 days to obtain permits and start rehabilitation.
Commissioners discussed framing, roofing and code compliance; staff said that when a certificate of occupancy is revoked, current codes would apply and that structural framing would have to be brought up to minimum requirements during rehabilitation. Staff recommended the owner and his contractor meet with permitting staff to clarify submittal requirements.
A commissioner moved to approve the staff recommendation (rehabilitation with permits commenced within 90 days or demolition within 90 days); the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The transcript records the vote as unanimous.
Staff told Ontiveros to bring his contractor to the Building Department for guidance on required drawings and permit submittals; staff said they would provide contact information to assist the owner.
