St. Paul council upholds condemnation, order to vacate for 722 E. Sixth St.; owner urged to complete permits

The St. Paul City Council on Jan. 7 upheld the legislative hearing officer’s recommendation to deny an appeal of a condemnation and order to vacate for 722 East Sixth Street.

Legislative hearing officer Ms. Moorman said the property was condemned because of structural concerns — including a failing front porch — and because water had been turned off after copper piping was stolen. She recommended denying the appeal and said, if the council sustained the condemnation and the property were registered in the vacant‑building program, a category‑2 designation would trigger a full code‑compliance inspection and require the owner to address a punch list of repairs before re‑occupancy.

Owner Tamar Azazi said she acquired the property on Dec. 4 and described shoring work the week after Thanksgiving; she said the porch failed when shoring was adjusted, that copper had been stolen previously, and that she intended to pull permits to complete repairs but had been told to stop work pending the council process. Azazi asked the council to avoid placing the property into the vacant‑building program so she could complete repairs and obtain permits.

After discussion, Council Member Johnson moved to uphold the legislative hearing officer’s recommendation. The council voted 7–0 to deny the owner’s appeal and to leave in place the condemnation and order to vacate. Staff noted the owner may pursue permits and that, if the case becomes a registered vacant building, a 90‑day waiver could be considered to allow an inspection and permit work to proceed to reduce fees if progress is shown.

The council’s action affirms the building official’s decision and requires the owner to follow code‑compliance steps before re‑occupancy.