Board delays decision on 503 Picker Valley to allow family to pursue title, restarts case

The Board of Construction Standards voted to reset the case for the property at 503 Picker Valley Drive to the next available hearing date to allow family members time to pursue ownership documents and a potential purchase, rather than ordering immediate demolition.

Ryan Garza, a dangerous‑premises official, presented photographs showing a single‑story structure with collapsed tree branches on the roof, separated siding, exposed framing, broken windows, interior collapse and damaged foundations. Staff told the board the property was inspected on Feb. 23, 2024, notices were mailed, and no financial documentation, repair scope or permit applications had been submitted.

Andrea Wallace, who identified herself as someone in communication with a buyer and said she had recently been notified about the hearing, told the board she is working with a company that may have financing to acquire and repair the property but acknowledged title and title insurance would be required.

Board members and staff discussed the timeline for title resolution and the limits of permitting when legal ownership is unsettled. Legal staff and board members said resolving title could take months and that staff could re‑schedule rather than immediately order demolition in light of the family’s stated interest.

The board moved to restart (reset) the case for the next available hearing to give the family a chance to pursue ownership or present a repair plan; the motion passed 6–2. Staff said the reset is intended to provide time to gather information and is not an endorsement of a sale or a guarantee of extension beyond standard procedures.

Staff will continue to monitor the property and will provide updated notice of the follow-up hearing; if the family does not produce title documentation or a viable repair plan, the board may again consider demolition or abatement at the subsequent hearing.