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Hot Springs board orders condemnation and removal of unsafe house at 115 Magnolia Street
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Summary
The Hot Springs Board of Directors adopted Resolution R-26-75 declaring a long-vacant residence at 115 Magnolia Street a public nuisance and authorized its removal after neighborhood services staff documented extensive structural deterioration and unsafe, unsecured openings.
The Hot Springs Board of Directors voted to adopt Resolution R-26-75 on April 7, 2026, declaring the long-vacant residence at 115 Magnolia Street a nuisance and directing its removal.
Neighborhood Services Manager James Hardage told the board that inspections dating from 2008 through 2025 had repeatedly documented severe exterior and structural damage, including a missing exterior wall and other failures that left the interior exposed and readily accessible. Hardage said a July 2024 permit repaired a porch, but a follow-up inspection last December found the structure still unsafe. He reported seeing work the week of the meeting in which roofing material was being removed, creating multiple holes and further exposure to the interior. Hardage said the structure does not comply with the Hot Springs property maintenance code and cited the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Volume II in explaining the public health and safety risk.
The property owner, Kavithi Morelli, addressed the board and said she had spent thousands of dollars attempting to repair the home but found significant interior damage and unsafe conditions. "This one's over my head," Morelli said, describing water exposure and hoarding conditions inside the building. She told the board she supports condemnation and removal, and said she had been salvaging some materials.
Mayor Pat McCabe called for the roll; all members present voted in favor and the resolution was adopted. The board's action authorizes the city to proceed with condemnation and removal to mitigate the documented hazards.
The resolution was introduced by the city attorney and supported by the neighborhood services staff report presented in public meeting. Under the terms described at the hearing, the city will proceed under local property‑maintenance and state fire‑safety codes; the owner confirmed awareness of the pending removal during proceedings.
