Weatherford commission orders demolition of three unfinished homes on Pepperdine Drive

The Weatherford Building and Standards Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to order the demolition of three unfinished homes at 2105, 2109 and 2113 Pepperdine Drive after city staff presented inspection findings showing failed foundation tests and extensive weather damage.

Julia Sessum, deputy code official for the city of Weatherford, told the commission the three single-family dwellings were permitted in September 2022 but construction stopped after concrete foundation samples failed in August 2023. Sessum said staff executed an administrative search-warrant inspection on Sept. 6, 2024, and documented a range of violations including exposed, weather-damaged structural members, missing doors and windows, interior water intrusion and unlawful accumulation of debris. "These were single family dwelling properties that were supposed to be a new construction," Sessum said, and she read an owner email noting the demolition would "begin within the next 10 days, and the entire process should be completed within 30 days."

Why it matters: Commissioners and neighbors framed the decision as a public-safety and neighborhood-quality action. Two neighbors who spoke during the public-comment period said the unfinished homes are an eyesore and a health hazard, citing rodents, debris and repeated exposure of structural members to the elements. Will Demir, a Pepperdine Drive resident and retired attorney who reviewed court records, told the commission he found no protective order or injunction that would prohibit demolition. "I think they would all come to the conclusion that it's a green light that the city can demolish them," he said. Matt Haviland, president of the University Hills Phase 2 HOA, said the properties "need to be removed from the neighborhood."

What the commission ordered: Following staff recommendations, the commission found the residential structures dilapidated, substandard and unfit for human habitation and declared them a public nuisance subject to abatement. The adopted order requires demolition and removal of the structures and their foundations within 30 days of the order; removal of demolition debris and graded lots; installation of erosion-control measures; and security fencing to be reinstalled within 5 days and remain until demolition commences. The order also authorizes the city to perform the work and assess a lien on the properties to secure reimbursement of demolition costs if the owner fails to comply.

What staff said about evidence and process: Staff provided certified-mail notices, publisher affidavits and a final notice of violation for each property, and explained some presentation photos were time-stamped and auto-labeled by new software; commissioners requested printed, address-stamped photos for the official file. Counsel and staff told the commission that the finding of "substandard" was based on inspection records and documents in the property's litigation files rather than new destructive testing conducted by the city.

Owner response and next steps: Staff said they received an email from property owner Grama Morris indicating intent to comply and that demolition work would begin within approximately 10 days and be completed within about 30 days. The commission passed the motion to adopt the orders after a motion and second; the motion passed unanimously. If the owner does not meet the timeline or conditions, the order allows the city to secure the sites, carry out demolition and place a lien to recover costs.

The commission completed the agenda and adjourned at about 10:16 a.m.