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Abilene board orders fines and demolition deadlines for multiple condemned properties
Summary
At its February meeting the Abilene Board of Building Standards approved staff recommendations to assess civil penalties or order demolition for several long-neglected properties, citing repeated vandalism, safety hazards and unpaid liens; the board also tabled a commercial case while the owner pursues repairs.
The Abilene Board of Building Standards on Monday approved staff recommendations to assess civil penalties or issue demolition orders for a string of condemned properties across the city, citing ongoing public-safety risks, unpaid liens and repeated vandalism.
Robert Marsh, the city’s property maintenance inspector, presented multiple cases illustrating long-standing code violations and unpaid liens. For 300 Wall Street (Case 24-000052), Marsh said the city recorded liens in earlier years and that the property remained unsecured; “The total civil penalties to be assessed is $77,000,” he told the board. The board closed the public hearing and voted to accept staff’s recommendation to assess penalties on that property.
For two legal descriptions of the same building at 5502 and 5512 North 1st Street (Cases 24-000054 and 24-000055), Marsh described hazardous interior conditions, chemical vats and standing water and recommended assessing $250 per day for 154 days of noncompliance (each case totaling $38,500). The board unanimously accepted the staff recommendation.
Other actions included finding the house at 1633 Sandifer Street (Case 25-005504) a public nuisance after a structure fire and approving an owner order to demolish or appeal to district court within 30 days. For two cases involving 3317 South 1st Street (Cases 24-004628 and 24-005247), the board assessed civil penalties totaling $6,100; staff said the owner’s demolition work had been partially halted by state asbestos-abatement requirements and the city had already taken emergency measures on dangerous sections.
The board also approved a plan-of-action timetable for the house at 742 North 13th Street (Case 24-001274): owners were ordered to submit a plan within 30 days and, if approved, receive 60 days to obtain rough-in inspections.
Board members pressed staff on chronology and whether penalties were cumulative; Marsh confirmed multiple separate fines have been assessed over time and that earlier liens remain on record. Several motions passed by roll call during the meeting.
Most cases were decided without public speakers; where owners or representatives did appear, they commonly asked for time to secure and rehabilitate properties. The board frequently offered tabling as an option where contractors or sale prospects were active.
What happens next: affected owners were ordered either to comply with timelines and permits or to demolish or file an appeal in district court within 30 days as noted in each order. Several items were explicitly tabled to next month’s meeting for progress reports.
