Lawton council declares scores of vacant properties dilapidated, authorizes abatement

The Lawton City Council on Tuesday adopted a series of resolutions declaring dozens of vacant or fire‑damaged structures across the city to be dilapidated public nuisances and authorized city abatement actions if owners do not make repairs or obtain required permits.

Council members said the action—taken as part of the council’s nuisance/condemnation docket—was driven by public‑safety concerns including broken windows, missing roofs, inactive water service and, in some cases, fire damage. The council approved each property by motion and recorded votes for the resolutions.

City code enforcement staff summarized conditions at the properties and noted many parcels had been posted, some for months or years, before the council hearing. Owners or representatives for several properties addressed the council during the public hearings; concerns raised included delayed insurance decisions after fire damage, liens for city‑ordered security work and time needed to secure demolition or remodel permits. For one fire‑damaged property at 4006 Northwest Meadowbrook Drive the owner said insurance adjusters had not yet approved a total‑loss determination and that he had begun cleanup; council members told the owner the city’s priority was public safety and explained that a posting starts a timetable for the owner to pursue permits.

Votes at a glance

- 1722 Northwest Cash Road (Ward 2): Resolution declaring structure dilapidated and authorizing abatement. Motion approved; recorded as "motion carries 6 to 0." (motion recorded) - 4006 Northwest Meadowbrook Drive (Ward 3): Resolution declaring structure dilapidated and authorizing abatement. Motion approved; recorded as "motion carries 6 to 0." (owner Jason Cochran spoke). - 617 Southwest Doolittle Avenue (Ward 3): Declared dilapidated; motion approved 6 to 0. (resident Tristan Jury spoke) - 708 Southwest I Avenue (Ward 5): Declared dilapidated; motion approved 6 to 0. (owner Lawrence Street said the structure had been demolished and cleaned up) - 710 & 712 Southwest I Avenue (Ward 5): Properties declared dilapidated; motions approved (votes recorded as 6 to 0 for 712; 710 handled in sequence) - 909 Southwest Seventh Street; 902 Southwest G Avenue; 907 Southwest Seventh Street; 1002 Southwest Park Avenue; 1211 Northwest Bessie Avenue (secondary structure); 1214 Southwest G Avenue (secondary structure); 1414 Southwest I Avenue (secondary structure); 1803 Northwest Fortieth Street; 2714 Northwest 20th Street; 2211 Northwest Baltimore Avenue; 55 Northwest 20 Fifth Street; 51 Northwest 20 Fifth Street; 55 Northwest 20 Fifth Street; 2613, 2615 Southwest E Avenue and other individually named parcels: Each was brought up, a public hearing opened and closed, and resolutions declaring the structures dilapidated were approved by recorded votes (most motions carried either 6–0 or 7–0 as the roll call indicated). See city docket (below) for the full list and outcomes.

What owners said

Owners and neighbors spoke at several hearings. Jason Cochran, representing a property on Meadowbrook Drive, said a windstorm and later a fire had damaged the home, and he reported an ongoing insurance process and a $444 city lien for interim security work that was blocking a permit application. Cochran asked for additional time; the council said city staff could work with owners when city delay was a factor but emphasized public‑safety timelines tied to the posting.

Several owners said they had cleaned interior floors or started demolition themselves and asked for time to secure permits; others said they planned to demolish and rebuild and had already contacted contractors. Neighbors said some buildings presented safety risks to children near parks and schools.

Why it matters

Under the resolutions, owners typically receive a specified period to obtain a demolition or remodel permit and demonstrate substantial progress; if they fail, the city may arrange summary abatement and place liens for the cost. Council members emphasized public safety near parks and schools as the overriding concern in approving the abatement authority.

Docket and next steps

City staff indicated the posted properties were being tracked for compliance; owners who wish to pursue remediation were instructed to work with building/permit staff to secure the correct permits and with city code enforcement on timetables. Several owners were told they could seek judicial relief if they believed the city actions impeded insurance investigations. The city attorney was authorized to commence legal action where necessary to abate public nuisances.

Ending

Council members closed the consolidated public‑hearing agenda after voting on the listed properties and moved on to the next business on the agenda.