Board finds 204 West Gardenia dilapidated, orders immediate security and engineering plan by March 5

The South Padre Island Substandard Structure Review Board on Jan. 16, 2025 found the property at 204 West Gardenia to be dilapidated, unfit for human habitation and a public nuisance, and issued orders that the owner secure the site immediately and submit an engineering report and surety bond by March 5, 2025.

Filiberto Alba, lead building official, presented photographs and a description of widespread exterior deterioration and water intrusion, saying siding and sheathing were cracked and decayed, door and window frames were unlevel and separating, and decks, stairs and metal connectors were corroded. Alba described differential settlement and sagging framing around multiple sides of the multi‑family structure.

Angie Cantu, code enforcement officer with Environmental Health Services, told the board the property had repeated violations under current ownership including nine violations related to stagnant pool water, 16 property‑cleanup violations and 23 weed‑lot violations (22 of which had been addressed), and that her department logged roughly 51 hours of patrol and enforcement activity on the property in 2024.

Owner Carlos Irena apologized to the board and said he had retained a structural engineer and intended to take the actions necessary to comply. An engineering representative, Jorge Hernandez, said his firm’s assessment identified significant water‑related deterioration and recommended replacing gutters, exterior sheathing and stairs; Hernandez said repairs to make the building habitable were feasible.

The board voted to: find the structure dilapidated and unfit for habitation; order the owner to secure the property immediately (including full perimeter fencing and enclosing the pool) within 48 hours; remove stagnant water from the pool or treat it to prevent mosquito larvae; clear debris from the grounds; and submit by March 5, 2025 a licensed professional engineer’s (PE) report, an estimate of repair costs and a surety bond in an amount adequate to cover those repairs. The board cautioned the owner that failure to comply with orders could result in civil administrative penalties of up to $1,000 per day and that the city could pursue demolition or repairs at city expense and place a lien for costs.

Board members said the owner may perform permitted work before March 5, but emphasized the immediate need to secure the site because of life‑safety risks, including falling debris, corroded structural connectors and an unsecured pool. The board set March 5 as the date for the owner to return with the engineer’s plan and the required financial surety for review.