Lawton council declares dozens of properties dilapidated, grants limited time for repairs

The Lawton City Council held a special meeting to consider more than two dozen properties for formal declarations of dilapidation under Lawton City Code §6-5-1 and to authorize abatement or other enforcement steps.

Council approved resolutions finding most of the properties — including 4006 Northwest Meadowbrook Drive, 406 Northwest Sixth Street, 601 Northwest Dearborn Avenue, 1406 Northwest Lawton Avenue, 14203 Northwest Osmond Avenue, 1711 and 1715 Northwest Kingsbury Avenue, 2002 Northwest Nineteenth Street and many others — to be dilapidated and authorized abatement measures or summary abatement where required. Most individual motions passed by roll call votes of 7-0.

City staff said typical conditions included extensive fire damage, broken windows and doors, missing or damaged siding and roofing, interior damage and recurring reports of vagrancy. In several cases owners or representatives said they planned repairs and asked for time to pull permits. Jason Cochran, who spoke during the hearing on 4006 Northwest Meadowbrook Drive, said he had given information to his insurer and asked to "pull the roofing permit on it to take the roof off" while the insurance claim proceeded.

Council frequently offered owners the chance to pull building permits and complete work rather than to proceed immediately with demolition. For example, after discussion the council approved a 90‑day permit extension for 4006 Northwest Meadowbrook Drive (motion passed 7-0) so the owner could remove roofing and pursue repairs. At 406 Northwest Sixth Street and other addresses staff confirmed active or recently issued building permits and in some cases the council tabled formal abatement until permits were in force (for instance, action on 1406 Northwest Lawton Avenue was tabled until the permit’s active period ends in July).

Several owners described difficulties that have slowed repairs: Anthony West said his 2512 Northwest Nineteenth Street property is held in a trust and he had been unable to transfer it; another owner said demolition by the city would be assessed as a lien against the parcel if the owner does not act. City staff told multiple owners the estimated municipal cost to demolish a structure is roughly $4,000–$5,000 and that cost would be placed on the tax rolls. Patrick Heard and others told the council they had active permits and plans for siding and interior work.

Where owners could not show imminent progress or funding, the council approved resolutions authorizing abatement. For properties with ongoing remediation or active permits, council members favored giving time for owners to follow through with repairs and to coordinate with city inspectors. Carrie Stemwall, speaking about 1711 Northwest Kingsbury Avenue and adjacent properties she is rehabbing, urged the council not to place her property on the city's demolition list while work is underway; council members agreed to continue that matter and grant additional time to pull permits.

The council repeatedly advised owners to coordinate directly with city staff for permit requirements and inspections. Staff described a standard process in which a repair or demolition permit is reviewed and, if work is under way and progress is evident, a property can remain off the city’s demolition list. If owners do not pull permits or complete repairs the city may remove a structure and place the cleanup cost as a lien on the parcel.

The meeting record shows numerous separate, individual votes. Most motions to declare dwellings dilapidated and to authorize abatement passed 7-0. A small number of items were continued or tabled to allow owners with active permits or documented plans additional time.

What’s next: Owners who were granted time must work with city staff to obtain and document permits and to demonstrate progress at periodic inspections; properties with no active remediation plans are now subject to city abatement procedures and possible demolition with cost recovery via lien.