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Midland neighbors demand action after seven-year unfinished house becomes neighborhood eyesore
Summary
Neighbors urged Midland City Council to act on a partially built house at 1109 West St. Andrews they say has sat incomplete for seven years, attracting animals and creating mold and property‑value concerns; city staff said legal limits under state law constrain enforcement but invited residents to provide evidence for follow‑up.
John Wilson, a neighbor at 1103 West St. Andrews, told the Midland City Council on Sept. 8 that a partially constructed house at 1109 West St. Andrews has been an "eyesore" for seven years and is harming adjacent properties. "We demand action on this issue," Wilson said in public comment, recounting repeated visits by wildlife, apparent mold and structural problems he said developed while the shell sat open to the elements.
Two other neighbors, Bob Plishka (1010 Holyrood Street) and Tom Feige (1009 West Saint Andrews), backed Wilson’s account, describing the property as abandoned and a public nuisance that attracts animals and creates safety and livability concerns. "It's a nuisance in our neighborhood," Plishka said, urging the council to take the matter seriously and to report back on next steps.
City staff acknowledged they share residents' frustrations but told the council and the speakers that enforcement options are limited by state law unless specific ordinance or legal basis exists. A staff member asked neighbors to meet with city staff and provide documentation or observations that might create a basis for action. "If there's something there that we can move forward on, come and talk to me," staff said during the public‑comment response.
Neighbors asked council to consider tools other communities use — time‑to‑complete requirements, permit revocation or condemnation — to prevent similar long‑term incomplete projects. Council members did not adopt a new enforcement measure at the meeting; staff said they would continue to research legal grounds and return with options if available.
The council did not vote on any ordinance or new enforcement action at the meeting; residents were invited to meet with staff to provide additional evidence and to follow up with planning or code enforcement staff. The neighbors said they will attend future hearings and asked the city to keep them informed about any next steps.
What happens next: City staff asked neighbors to provide specific documentation and said they would continue to look for any legal basis for enforcement and would report back; no formal policy change was adopted on Sept. 8.
