Grand Prairie board extends compliance order for 1605 Acacia Street after owner says loan approved

The Grand Prairie Building Advisory and Appeals Board on Tuesday extended a compliance order for the property at 1605 Acacia Street and required the owner, Jill Malone, to reappear at the board's next meeting after Malone said she had just been approved for a loan to make repairs.

A city staff member told the board the house had been inspected repeatedly since May 2023 and found to have a hole in the roof, interior damage including a mold-like substance and a collapsed ceiling. "1605 contains a structure that has become a dangerous, attractive nuisance due to neglect and lack of maintenance," the staff member said, summarizing prior findings and the staff'recommended orders to repair, remove or demolish the structure within 30 days of an order.

The staff presentation included photographs and a timeline of enforcement activity: the interior had been cleared out (two dumpsters were used at the site), but no permanent roof repairs had been completed and shingles were missing over the garage. Staff read applicable provisions of the Grand Prairie code of ordinances cited in the record and warned that if the owner failed to comply the city could demolish the structure at the owner's expense, assess civil penalties of $1,000 per day, place a lien against the property and bill city expenses with 10% annual interest.

Owner Jill Malone told the board she had been pursuing financing for years and that a loan application was approved earlier that day. "I got approved today," Malone said. "So with that, I can definitely move ahead." She also said she had cleaned out the interior and was working with a contractor who had previously provided an assessment, but she did not know whether the loan amount would cover all repairs to bring the home up to minimum housing standards.

Board members questioned Malone about documentation, the scope of needed repairs and the contractor previously identified in hearings. One member asked whether Malone could provide proof of the loan; Malone said she could bring paperwork to the office the following day. The contractor named in earlier hearings, Demos Construction, was discussed as the likely builder if financing held but past offers of financing and contractor assistance had previously fallen through, staff said.

After discussion the board amended and voted on a staff-recommended extension. The motion, as stated on the record, extended the standing order for 30 days (to a date the transcript records as March 4) and required Malone to appear at the board's next scheduled meeting on March 2, 2026. The board approved the motion by a 7-to-1 vote.

The chair and staff noted the existing order would be enforceable at 11:59 p.m. the night of the meeting if not extended; with the extension the board retains enforcement options and will review the case again at the March meeting. No members of the public offered comment, and the board adjourned at 6:26 p.m.

Next steps: Malone is required to provide documentation of financing and to appear before the board on March 2; the board will reconsider the standing order at that meeting.