Neighbor says fire-damaged Homestead property remains unsecured; special master orders owner to secure building in seven days

Court officer Ciapelli presented case CE25010074 concerning a property that was damaged by fire earlier in 2025 and subsequently cited for multiple code violations, including unsecured, vacant status and lack of required permits. Evidence included photographs from January and September showing fire damage and an unsecured building.

Neighbor Massimiliano Magnoni testified that his home, purchased in January 2025, was directly affected by the fire three days after he bought it. He said the adjacent burned structure remained "burned, abandoned, unsecured, unsanitary" nearly a year later and described ongoing health, safety and financial harms: he has paid for alternate housing and continues mortgage and tax obligations while unable to occupy his residence. "Nearly a year later, the store turned my neighbor is still burned, abandoned, unsecured, unsanitary," Magnoni said on the record.

City staff told the special master no permit applications had been submitted by the current owner, identified in the record as Gonzales Corporation. After hearing testimony and reviewing the evidence, the special master found a violation and ordered the property secured within seven days with an $80 administration fee assessed today. Staff was instructed to document compliance and return to the special master if the order was not met.

This order is an administrative enforcement action intended to abate an immediate public-safety and health concern; the record shows the decision was made on the basis of staff photographs and neighbor testimony during the Nov. 6 hearing.