El Paso commission gives owner 90 days to begin rehabbing fire-damaged house at 8722 Gateway Blvd. N.

The Building and Standards Commission of the City of El Paso on March 20 voted to modify staff recommendations and give the owner of 8722 Gateway Boulevard North 90 days to begin rehabilitating a fire-damaged house, after staff had recommended demolition.

The commission’s action followed a presentation by Olia Martinez, a property maintenance and housing inspector, who said the main structure — built “on or about the year 1950” and about 752 square feet — suffered substantial fire damage, roof structural failure and was open to unwanted entry. Martinez recommended the structure be declared substandard, the certificate of occupancy revoked, and the structure demolished within 30 days if not brought into compliance.

The commission instead approved a motion to accept staff recommendations as modified so that the structure must be rehabilitated within 90 days; if the owner does not begin rehabilitation or submit permits within that period, the demolition order will stand.

Why it matters: the owner, identified in…