Port Richey, Fla. — After a quasi-judicial hearing on Nov. 25, the Port Richey City Council voted to deny an appeal and proceed with the demolition of 8648 Green Street, concluding the structure met the city’s slum-and-blight criteria and posed an imminent risk to public safety.

The hearing opened with an explanation from City Attorney Nancy Meyer of the quasi-judicial standard: the council must base findings on competent, substantial and relevant evidence presented at the hearing. Owner Joseph Voorhek and occupant Anna Dvorak told council they installed a new metal roof and planned repairs and asked for additional time to complete work and re-occupy the house.

Tony Bryant, the city’s building official, testified the house met multiple code criteria for slum and blight, citing missing soffit and rodent barriers, a tree that damaged lintels and roof structure, open windows and standing interior debris. He said photographic evidence and on-site inspections supported his conclusion that portions of the structure were “manifestly unsafe” and likely to collapse.

Neighbors urged immediate action. Brian Duke, speaking on behalf of nearby residents, described prolonged neglect, wildlife in the yard and damage from storms, and said the property depressed surrounding values.

Council members asked whether the owners had submitted engineering reports or insurance claims and whether repairs would exceed 50% of the property’s market value — a threshold that, if exceeded, typically makes rehabilitation infeasible under local code. The building official said the likely cost of required repairs could put the property over that threshold.

After hearing final summaries from staff and the owner, a council motion to deny the appeal and proceed with demolition carried on a roll-call vote. Council indicated the property owners have the option to demolish the structure themselves within the code’s deadline (staff cited a typical 30-day owner-demolition window); if they do not, the city will proceed and assess costs as allowed by law.

The council’s action was framed by the building official’s testimony and photographic exhibits; the record shows council relied on the formal evidence presented at the hearing when making its factual finding.

What happens next: the owners were notified the demolition process will proceed and that city staff will publish required notices and timelines. The council’s decision can lead to city-initiated demolition if the owners do not comply within the notice window.