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Richmond commission affirms demolition orders for three blighted properties; emergency case tabled
Summary
The Richmond Unsafe Building Commission on Oct. 21 affirmed demolition orders for 111 S. 11th St., 212 S. 7th St. and 828 S. 6th St., citing long-term neglect and safety risks. An emergency case at 214 NW 1st St. was tabled to allow owner remediation and contractor asbestos abatement.
The Richmond Unsafe Building Commission voted Oct. 21 to affirm demolition orders for three long-vacant, deteriorated properties, while tabling an emergency demolition to allow the owner time to hire a contractor and complete asbestos remediation.
Sherry Ritchie of the City of Richmond code enforcement department told the commission that 111 South 11th Street has been a long-standing community concern with fire damage dating to December 2022, more than 17 enforcement violations since 2019, no water or electric service since Dec. 13, 2022 and $5,034.97 in outstanding property taxes. Ritchie asked the commission to “affirm the order to demolish the nuisance and deteriorated property located at 111 South 11th Street.” The commission adopted the enforcement authority’s findings and affirmed the submitted demolition order.
Resident Richard Lake appealed to the commission during public comment, saying the property’s condition has harmed neighborhood businesses and safety. “Tear the house down,” Lake said, adding that neighbors have been maintaining the yard and that owners live out of state.
Ritchie also recommended demolition for 212 South 7th Street, describing “severe structural damage,” signs of mold and asbestos, more than eight enforcement violations, no water since January 2021 and no electric since June 2021, and $583.49 in unpaid taxes. The commission voted to adopt the enforcement statements and affirm the demolition and debris-removal order for that property.
At 828 South 6th Street, Ritchie described a pattern of local properties owned by members of the Ballinger family that have not been maintained. She cited missing doors and windows, rotted soffit and fascia, unsecured openings, overgrown vegetation and dumped debris. The commission voted to affirm the enforcement authority’s findings and the demolition order for the house, garage and overgrowth.
An emergency matter at 214 Northwest 1st Street, owned by Michael Sale, was described by staff as the subject of a suspicious fire on Sept. 9, 2025. Staff said 27 asbestos samples were taken and one sample showed asbestos above the 1% threshold, requiring contractor remediation. Owner Sale has a contract with Kelly Cox of Cox Excavating to remove the structure; staff said they would proceed with emergency demolition only if the owner did not complete removal. A board member moved to table the emergency case to the next meeting to allow the owner and contractor time to act; that motion carried.
All formal motions to adopt enforcement findings and to affirm demolition orders were seconded and carried; the commission did not record roll-call vote tallies in the transcript beyond vocal approval. The meeting ended after the commission approved the three demolition orders and handled the emergency item by tabling it to allow remediation.
