Austin Building and Standards Commission orders demolitions, approves repairs and denies appeal after April 23 hearing

The City of Austin Building and Standards Commission on April 23, 2025, voted on seven property enforcement cases, including multiple demolition orders and repair deadlines, and denied an appeal of an amended notice of violation for a commercial property. The meeting also included the commission’s annual election of officers.

Why it matters: The commission’s rulings set compliance deadlines, authorize city-initiated demolition where owners do not act and preserve the city’s ability to recover demolition costs. Several orders affect long-vacant or fire-damaged buildings where staff said public-safety and nuisance risks exist.

Most significant outcomes

- The commission adopted an amended order directing the owner of a commercial fourplex at 1211 East 52nd Street (case CL2025036193) to demolish the structures and remove debris; the motion authorized the code official to demolish the property and assess expenses and liens if the owner fails to complete demolition within the order’s timeline. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.

- A longstanding repair order for a vacant single-family house at 7708 Manassas Drive (case CL201897104) was modified to a demolition order; the commission left the prior accrued civil penalty of $86,035.71 in place and authorized the code official to proceed with demolition if the owner does not comply within the order’s timeline. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.

- The commission approved demolition orders or authorized demolition as the acceptable remedy for other blighted or fire-damaged properties: 506 Clover Court (CL2025014703) and the residential and accessory structures implicated in several cases were ordered demolished if owners did not complete required actions. Those motions passed by unanimous votes.

- For fire- and water-damaged properties where repair was pursued instead of immediate demolition, the commission set compliance windows and in two cases extended the compliance clock from the staff-recommended 45 days to 90 days before penalties begin to accrue: 3117 Garwood Street (CL2024158389) and 6911 Bennett Avenue Unit A (CL2025014720). Both amended motions passed, 6-0.

- For 2423 Town Lake Circle Unit 213 (the Mesh Apartments, CL2025002177), the commission adopted staff’s recommended findings and ordered the owner to obtain permits, complete repairs and request inspections; the order sets a 45‑day compliance window and a civil penalty of $1,000 per week that accrues after the compliance deadline if repairs are not complete. Motion passed unanimously, 6-0. Code Inspector Jason Henley urged the commission to adopt staff’s recommendation, saying the unit’s condition constituted “a public and attractive nuisance” and was “unsafe with substandard conditions.”

- The commission denied an amended appeal by the owner of a commercial property at 1500 East 12th Street (case CV202117536), upholding the amended notice of violation issued March 13, 2025. After discussion the commission voted 6-0 to deny the appeal. Investigator Willis Adams said staff’s photos and follow-up inspections documented unsecured openings, accumulated debris and other violations at the site.

Elections and routine business

At the start of the meeting the commission elected officers for the May 1, 2025–April 30, 2026 term. Commissioner Timothy Stonestat was re-elected chair and Commissioner Blaine Campbell was re-elected vice chair in unanimous roll-call votes.

What staff reported and how owners responded

City code staff presented evidence and photos for each case and recommended orders tailored to the condition of each property. For example, code investigator Courtney Britt described structural deficiencies, boarded openings and accumulated trash at the 1211 East 52nd Street property and told commissioners that asbestos abatement had been completed as part of demolition preparations. Investigator Britt asked the panel to adopt staff’s findings that the structures were “substandard with dangerous conditions.”

Owner representatives sometimes told the commission they were pursuing demolition permits or actively working on permits for repair. Heather Fenske, an authorized agent for the owner of 1211 East 52nd Street, told the commission the owner had a site‑plan application for demolition (case 2025‑043472DA) and requested more time to finish the demolition permitting process; commissioners amended staff’s order to require demolition within the adopted schedule and to authorize city action if the owner failed to comply.

At 2423 Town Lake Circle unit 213, Leah Bojo of Brenner Group said the owner had completed much of the interior floor work and was actively working with the city on outstanding permits; she asked for additional time before civil penalties would begin. The commission adopted the staff-recommended repair order with the 45‑day compliance period spelled out in the order.

Votes at a glance (case — motion outcome — vote)

- CL2025002177 (2423 Town Lake Circle, Unit 213 — Mesh Apartments) — Adopt staff findings; order owner to obtain permits, correct violations, request inspections; start $1,000/week penalty if noncompliant after 45 days — Passed, 6–0.

- CL2025036193 (1211 East 52nd Street) — Amend staff order to a demolition order: owner to obtain permits and demolish within 45 days; if not, authorize city demolition and assessment of expenses; retain city’s ability to record liens — Passed (amended), 6–0.

- CL2024158389 (3117 Garwood Street) — Adopt staff findings with amended compliance timeline: change 45 days to 90 days before penalties start — Passed (amended), 6–0.

- CL2025014703 (506 Clover Court) — Adopt staff findings and issue demolition order; authorize city to demolish and assess costs if owner does not comply — Passed, 6–0.

- CL2025014720 (6911 Bennett Avenue Unit A) — Adopt staff findings with amended compliance timeline to 90 days before penalties start — Passed (amended), 6–0.

- CL201897104 (7708 Manassas Drive, longstanding case from 2018) — Supersede prior repair order; modify to demolition order; keep accrued civil penalty of $86,035.71; authorize city demolition and cost recovery if owner fails to comply within 45 days — Passed, 6–0.

- CV202117536 (1500 East 12th Street, amended appeal) — Deny appeal of amended notice of violation; uphold staff findings related to unsecured openings, debris and other cited deficiencies — Passed (appeal denied), 6–0.

How the penalties and timelines work

Multiple orders set a 45‑day compliance period that begins on the date the adopted order is mailed to the owner; staff repeatedly clarified that the compliance clock begins when the order is mailed. Several motions amended the staff‑recommended 45‑day window to a longer period (90 days) before penalties begin to accrue, reflecting commissioner discretion to balance permitting timelines with enforcement.

What comes next

The commission’s decisions will be mailed to affected owners, and the orders take effect when mailed. Where the commission authorized city-initiated demolition, code staff said the city may proceed if owners do not meet the ordered deadlines. Owners retain appeal rights to district court where applicable (the commission reminded attendees that a decision is final and binding unless appealed under the Texas Local Government Code).

Context and background

Most cases before the commission concerned long-vacant, fire-damaged or otherwise substandard buildings that staff said posed safety or nuisance risks. Several owners told the commission they had started permit or site-plan processes, or had contractors lined up to do demolition; commissioners modified orders where they judged additional time appropriate. For the historic‑designation controversy raised during the appeal of 1500 East 12th Street, the commission’s role at this hearing was limited to the appeal of the amended notice of violation; broader legal disputes about landmark designation are being litigated separately, as one owner’s attorney noted.

Quote

“I strongly urge the committee members to adopt the staff recommendation,” City of Austin Code Inspector Jason Henley said when presenting photographs of damage at 2423 Town Lake Circle.

Ending

The commission conducted its business by roll-call votes, with every contested motion on the April 23 agenda passing unanimously by the six members present. The commission’s orders will be mailed to owners within about a week; owners who fail to comply face assessed civil penalties, interest and possible city-initiated demolition and cost recovery in accordance with the adopted orders.