Miss Clifton urges new approach to dilapidated commercial buildings in McAlester

Miss Clifton told the McAlester City Council on Monday that dilapidated commercial buildings pose distinct legal and budgetary challenges compared with residential blight and called for the city to treat commercial condemnation and demolition more like hazardous-waste projects.

"We have to be really careful at least providing ample amount of time for the property owners to address these buildings," Clifton said, adding that condemnation and demolition should be a last resort. She described commercial structures as "eyesores, or concerns for the public," but said reuse is often made infeasible by code triggers that require bringing vacant properties up to current building standards.

Clifton cited local and state authority for action, referencing a city ordinance (Article 9 §18531) that defines dilapidated and dangerous buildings and a state statute she identified as Title 11 §22-1-12, which provides procedural authority for condemnation. She also noted a separate statute (22-11-12.1) governing cleaning, boarding and securing buildings that McAlester has not adopted.

The technical and regulatory hurdles are costly, Clifton said. Federal NESHAP/asbestos rules require licensed asbestos surveys and DEQ notice (she said roughly a 10-working-day notice applies) before most commercial demolitions, and abatement often must be done wet with specialized equipment. "You're treating it like it's a hazardous waste project rather than just a construction project," she said.

Council members and Clifton discussed past condemnations, including a hotel the city once condemned. The mayor said the city's liabilities on that project "were very close to $300,000," and Clifton warned the city needs budget authority before moving forward with condemnation because the city is ultimately responsible for demolition costs if property owners do not complete required work.

Clifton outlined the limits of enforcement: absentee, out-of-state or corporate owners make it difficult to serve notices or collect fines; the municipal judge determines penalties under the ordinance; and liens placed after abatement may take months and can still go unpaid. She said the city has authority to foreclose but has not done so.

As practical steps, Clifton said she has circulated a 3–4-page commercial demolition checklist for staff and property owners listing surveys, DEQ notices and other procedural steps. She recommended updating timelines and budgets, drafting a boarding-and-securing ordinance, and considering measures to make vacant storefronts look occupied ("dark-store" or façade treatments) to reduce nuisance and public-safety risks.

Council members asked staff to return with ordinance language and cost estimates. The council discussed temporary measures such as fencing or signage but noted those could become attractive nuisances if not managed. Clifton urged a strategic shift in how the city budgets and manages commercial condemnations and demolitions to reflect the higher regulatory and contractor costs involved.

Next steps: staff will draft ordinance language for boarding and securing and bring budget options and timelines back to the council for consideration.