Building and Standards Commission cuts penalties for two multifamily properties, approves several demolition orders

The City of Austin Building and Standards Commission on Jan. 22 reduced accrued civil penalties for two repeat-offender apartment properties and approved multiple orders requiring owners to obtain permits, complete repairs or demolish unsafe structures.

Commissioners voted to reduce penalties for Sunrise Bluffs Apartments at 1704 Nelms Drive to a combined $37,012.20 (down from $60,119.06) and to reduce penalties for Lucero Apartment Homes at 2301 Durwood/2324 Wilson to a combined $90,000 (down from $680,049.16). The commission also adopted staff recommended orders requiring demolition or demolition-ready permits at several fire- or storm-damaged single-family and commercial properties; those orders include set compliance windows and weekly civil penalties if owners do not achieve compliance.

The Nelms Drive case involved three Building and Standards Commission orders with combined assessed penalties of $60,119.06. City staff told the commission the owner had achieved compliance with the repair orders and asked the commission either to affirm the full civil penalties or to reduce them. The commission voted unanimously to reduce each of the three orders to $12,337.40, producing a total reduced amount of $37,012.20. Property counsel told the commission the owner had experienced permitting delays and COVID-era…