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Neighbors press committee on enforcement as DCD seeks authority to sell 1847 N. 2nd St. back to former owners; item held to council
Summary
Development staff proposed selling 1847 N. 2nd St. (Brewer's Hill) back to the former owners under a restoration agreement requiring 50% of scope completed by Aug. 1, 2026; neighbors raised safety concerns and the committee held the matter to the call of the chair for additional legal language on enforcement and clawbacks.
The committee heard a contested proposal to sell a city-owned tax-deed property at 1847 North 2nd Street back to its former owners on April 14 and agreed to hold the item to the call of the chair so the city attorney can add stronger enforcement language to the proposed agreement.
Carrie Smith from DCD Real Estate said the property, acquired in November 2024 via tax foreclosure and historically designated, had a raise order and a complex enforcement history. DCD negotiated a restoration agreement that would stay DNS enforcement until Nov. 1, 2026 on the condition that at least 50% of the scope of work be completed by Aug. 1, 2026; the former owner must provide proof of funds and a $7,500 escrow to start work. "We don't make a decision on the spot as to whether or not to sell back to a former owner," Smith said, describing the conditional pathway DCD negotiated.
Neighborhood resident Jesse Byam Katzman said the house has been on DNS violation lists for over a decade and described fire, vermin and safety risks next door. "This property has been on the DNS violation and enforcement list for over a decade ... the property was packed to the brim with stuff, which creates a huge fire risk," Katzman said, asking for clear assurances that the sale-back would not leave neighbors exposed if repairs are not completed.
Jumaane Cheatham of DNS explained how raise-order math typically compares repair cost to assessed value and confirmed the property would need substantial repairs to reach code. Committee members repeatedly asked whether the agreement contains sufficient clawback and demolition pathways if the owner fails to perform; DCD acknowledged the current draft does not yet contain specific language and said the city attorney's office would need to add provisions for reacquisition, demolition or market resale when necessary.
Alderman Cog moved to hold the matter to the call of the chair to allow time to incorporate stronger enforcement provisions and to avoid closing without alternative enforcement pathways; hearing no objections, the chair ordered the hold.
Next steps: The committee asked DCD and the city attorney to produce legally firm language clarifying clawbacks, demo authority and contingency options before the file returns to council.
