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Governing body directs owner to secure 112 East Marlin within 48 hours; return set for March 5
Summary
At a regular meeting, board members voted to instruct the owner of 112 East Marlin to secure the property with a 6-foot metal fence within 48 hours and to appear at the March 5 meeting with a construction timeline after staff reported code violations and safety risks.
At a regular meeting, board members voted to instruct the owner of 112 East Marlin to secure the property within 48 hours and to return to the board at its March 5 meeting with a timeline for repairs and financing.
Public Works Director Alex Sanchez told the board the building does not meet minimum building standards and “Yes, sir,” that there is a potential danger to the public. Sanchez showed photographs of exposed wiring, rotted pilings and interior damage, and said a stop-work order had been issued previously in 2021.
Norberto Ponce, who identified himself as the owner or owner representative, said the building was purchased years ago and has been gutted for renovation. He told the board the renovation financing had been in flux: “We just paid off the loan,” he said, and added that Falcon Bank in Brownsville has approved the loan pending an appraisal. On the timing, Ponce said the bank told him “they should have a loan the next 3 weeks.”
A board member moved to require the property be secured within 48 hours with a 6-foot metal fence and to have the owner return on March 5 with a construction timeline and details on the loan. A second was offered and the motion passed on a voice vote; the board did not record individual vote counts.
During discussion, board members and staff cited specific safety concerns, including exposed wiring, broken fencing, rotted pilings, glass and debris that could injure children or others who enter the site, and doors to upstairs units left open. Sanchez noted the building had mold, sloping floors on the second story and unpermitted electrical work observed earlier.
Ponce said the property originally contained four rental units, that much of the interior is currently gutted to the studs, and that crews would begin cleaning and securing the site immediately: “Starting tomorrow, I have a crew out there, clean up the grass…we'll secure all the doors.” He also said he would install fencing if required.
The board’s directive is administrative: secure the property and return with a timeline and financing status. The board set March 5 as the date when the owner must report back; the board did not set or identify any fines, demolition order, or other enforcement steps in the motion.
