Year‑end planning and preservation review: $57M in 2025 building activity, dozens of demolitions and 104 abated unsafe cases
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Summary
Mayor Dewey and planning staff presented a year‑end report showing roughly $57 million in building activity for 2025, nearly 300 permits issued, multiple voluntary demolitions of unsafe or vacant structures, and progress on PACE and vacant/abandoned‑structure cases; staff highlighted success stories downtown and committed continued enforcement and outreach.
Mayor Dewey and planning staff gave a year‑end review of permitting and preservation work that showed roughly $57 million in commercial and residential building activity for 2025 (an increase of about $10 million from 2024), nearly 300 permits issued, and significant progress on abating unsafe and vacant structures.
Planning staff reviewed voluntary demolitions of long‑vacant, unsafe buildings around the city and said approximately 104 of 181 previously identified vacant/unsafe cases have been abated; 26 unsafe cases remain active. Staff highlighted several successful restorations — including longtime vacant properties on Main Street and Park Avenue that have been returned to productive use — and noted PACE and Paul Bruhn funds are being targeted to eliminate blight and restore historic fabric. The presentation also covered nuisance complaints (up from 2024), stormwater/MS4 complaints (17 in 2025) and zoning enforcement work.
On insurance and risk management, staff reported a final property‑casualty premium of $468,005.79 (below the approved up‑to amount) and a $10,000 workers’‑comp audit refund; officials credited investments such as automatic trash pickup and sidewalk repairs with helping hold renewal rates to a single‑digit increase rather than the larger hikes seen elsewhere.
What’s next: staff will continue targeted outreach on nuisance and vacant‑property cases, finalize remaining PACE and Paul Bruhn projects, and return with follow‑up reports as projects reach construction and completion milestones.
