North Little Rock council moves forward on multiple condemnations after debate over Dixie neighborhood progress

The North Little Rock City Council on April 27 advanced a package of nuisance condemnations and cleanup liens after extended public hearings and council debate that centered on whether recent owners who have started repairs should be granted additional time to rehabilitate properties.

Mayor Hartwick called public hearings for a series of resolutions that declare specific addresses to be public nuisances and give property owners a chance to abate conditions. At a hearing on R26107, property owner Carlos Sadler said he had recently begun pursuing a permit and engaged a contractor to begin rehabilitation at 2112 Edmond Street. “I went down today to get a permit so we can start rehabbing the house,” Sadler said. Code enforcement staff informed the council that the city’s rehab-agreement process requires posting an escrow amount equal to an estimated demolition cost and signing a formal agreement before interior rehabilitation may proceed. Director McHenry…