Hutchinson rolls out demolition grant, sets hearings on unsafe structures as part of blight push

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — City staff on Feb. 3 detailed a new demolition‑grant program designed to accelerate removal of dilapidated structures and spur reinvestment, and the council approved setting a hearing for April 7 on five residential properties identified as unsafe.

Building and Neighborhood Services (Jason) described the 'Structure‑to‑Soil' initiative. Under the plan, residential property owners may qualify for a 100% demolition option if they transfer the parcel to the city land bank, or a 50/50 option when owners present viable revitalization plans and agree to a time frame for rebuilding. Commercial applicants could receive up to 10% of demolition costs capped at $25,000. Jason said the program requires two competitive bids from licensed demolition contractors and that staff will post the application materials on the city website in March.

Jason also asked council to set an April 7 hearing for five properties the department identified as condemnable (addresses listed in the packet). He explained the notification sequence under the property‑maintenance code: initial PMC notices, abatement steps, published notices and potential condemnation. Staff told council two of the listed property owners are deceased and that newspaper publication is used when mail contact cannot be completed.

Council members discussed safeguards to avoid the city bearing the full cost on properties that are later not revitalized; staff floated options including placing a city lien if the recipient fails to revitalize within an agreed timeframe. Jason said program funding comes from unbonded funds already in the 2026 budget and the current initial appropriation is approximately $100,000.

The council approved the hearing date for the unsafe structures and asked staff to return with program materials, lien or surety language for the 50/50 option and a publicly accessible application process.