Bellevue council orders condemnation of heavily damaged duplex at 4902–4906 Robin Drive

The Bellevue City Council voted to condemn the structures at 4902 and 4906 Robin Drive after a public hearing where the city’s building inspector described extensive structural damage from a propane explosion the previous October and ongoing safety and trespassing problems.

Building Inspector Mike Christiansen told the council the explosion pushed out foundation and wall sections, displaced floor joists and left portions of the west side of the duplexes effectively rubble. “The west side … is virtually gonna need to come down. It’s rubble,” Christiansen said while showing a video of the damage. He recommended condemnation on public-safety grounds.

Property owner Eloy Flores addressed the council and said he purchased the duplexes about six weeks earlier and submitted a written construction plan to restore foundations, framing, mechanical systems, windows, siding, roofing and life-safety equipment. Flores’ plan, read into the record by an interpreter, lists a phased timeline that began the week of March 20 and estimated completion by Sept. 20, 2025, and names contractors Flores said would perform the work. Flores and an associate, Eddie Rosales, said Flores has previously built homes and estimated the cost at about $100,000–$120,000.

Council members and staff questioned whether the structure could be repaired or whether the west side would need full disassembly and rebuild. Christiansen and council members said much of the damage on the explosion side appears to require removal to footing and reconstruction rather than repair. Christiansen said he first began preparing the condemnation paperwork after police told him of ongoing trespassing, and that he had only spoken with Flores the prior week.

Council members also raised safety concerns for neighbors and children who had been entering the unsecured property. Several council members expressed sympathy for the owner’s intent to rebuild but emphasized the immediate public-safety risk posed by repeated trespassing and the unstable structure.

On a motion by Councilwoman Welch, seconded by Councilman Casey, the council approved Resolution 2025-06 condemning the structures and authorizing the mayor to sign. The mayor announced, “I have 5 yes votes and 1 no vote with Councilman McCall voting no. Motion carries.”

The resolution authorizes the city to proceed with condemnation and, if necessary, demolition to abate the public-safety hazard. The resolution text and staff report state that the city’s next administrative steps would include documentation of costs and statutory notice procedures; council discussion made clear that once condemnation is ordered, reversal requires city action before demolition, and that demolition costs may be charged to the property owner under city code.

Flores told the council he had begun boarding openings and moving personal property outside the house to make it available to tenants, but both Flores and Christiansen said re-entry is risky and that Flores had declined to allow tenants back inside. Christiansen said two demolition contractors quoted about $22,000 for demolition. Council members asked staff to follow up on whether personal property or a vehicle on site could be removed and preserved for former tenants before any demolition work commenced.

The council’s action was limited to the condemnation resolution; Flores may still pursue permits, engineering assessments and rebuilding after the city’s process is complete, but Christiansen indicated the damage to the west side likely requires structural disassembly and reconstruction rather than patch repairs.

The council closed the public hearing and adopted Resolution 2025-06.