Building official reports crash, reviews redevelopment and remediation plans for 51 East Waller

The Delavan building and zoning inspector told the Planning Commission that staff responded to a vehicle that pressed the wrong pedal and struck the front of 1823, causing interior wall and storefront glass damage; no injuries were reported.

Inspector Mark said a conditional‑use petition to permit second‑floor residential use in an operating hotel is pending and will be explained by the city planner at next month’s meeting. He also said an applicant intends to redivide the former Home Work building on South Third Street into two residential units rather than redevelop it.

Commission members asked about a block of four city‑owned residential lots on Linden Lane; responses in the meeting estimated the city had owned those lots for about eight to 10 years. Members then discussed the city’s pending purchase of 51 East Waller from the county (purchase not yet finalized). The inspector said the city’s immediate plan is to remove fuel tanks and perform asbestos remediation rather than demolish the building. Commissioners noted the lot is substandard and falls in the downtown development/historic district, which imposes access, parking and signage constraints that will influence viable reuse. One member urged staff to weigh whether remediation costs would be justified for resale or whether demolition would be more economical, noting other nearby properties that had been demolished rather than restored.

The inspector’s report was provided in the meeting packet; staff invited questions and provided the information summarized above. No formal action was taken on these items at the meeting.