Council upholds demolition order for one property, tables appeal and repair plan for another

The Victoria City Council on Tuesday upheld a Building Standards Commission demolition order for a severely deteriorated structure at 1205 East Santa Rosa Street and tabled a second demolition appeal for a commercial building at 2606 Port Lavaca Drive to allow the property owner time to complete repairs.

Code enforcement staff summarized both cases. For 1205 East Santa Rosa, staff described extensive structural cracking, wood rot, roof holes, interior fire damage and widespread deterioration that staff and the Building Standards Commission concluded exceeded 50% loss of value; staff recommended upholding the commission’s demolition order. After brief council discussion, a motion to uphold the demolition order passed.

For 2606 Port Lavaca Drive, staff said the commercial shell has a severely deteriorated roof and interior water damage but that concrete block walls appeared marginally sound and the property owner had pulled a permit in July for roof and exterior repairs (mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits were not yet included). The owner’s son addressed council and asked for 30 days to complete repairs and for time to coordinate contractors from Houston. The owner’s representative said the building was roughly 1,200 square feet and the property had been vacant for “over 3 or 4 years.”

Council members and staff discussed the city’s options: uphold the demolition order; reverse the Building Standards Commission order; or table the appeal to allow repairs to proceed and for staff to re‑inspect. Council voted to table the Port Lavaca Drive appeal until the council’s special meeting on Sept. 9, and staff was directed to work with the owner and inspect progress. Councilmembers urged the owner to submit a detailed repair plan at the Sept. 9 hearing.

The actions: the demolition order for 1205 East Santa Rosa was upheld; the appeal for 2606 Port Lavaca Drive was tabled to Sept. 9 to give the owner time to pursue repairs and provide a plan. Staff said if the building at Port Lavaca Drive remains in its current condition after the tabling period, the city will pursue demolition.