Norwalk hearing orders owner to address blight on four properties, pauses further fines pending permits

Norwalk City officials on the record entered civil assessments against four properties owned by a resident identified as Gabriella and gave the owner 30 days in most cases to obtain demolition or repair permits that would halt further daily fines.

The decision came after staff reviewed photographs and previous hearing minutes for 20 Cleveland Terrace, 32 Low Street, 13 Bay View and a separate property with roof failure. Officials said the properties meet the city’s blight criteria and cited a state statute that requires local enforcement.

Gabriella, who was sworn in to testify, described plans to assemble lots and build new structures but said delays with surveyors, architects and engineers have slowed progress. "I want to do it and I want to do the right thing," she said, adding she had waited months for drawings and survey files.

Bill, the city’s blight official, told the owner that pulling a demolition or roofing permit generally stops the accrual of daily fines and that an "unsafe letter" can allow a new building to be placed on the same footprint. "An unsafe letter allows her to put the same structure footprint right back where it is," Bill said, explaining that process could preserve the owner’s ability to rebuild while eliminating an active blighted structure.

On 20 Cleveland Terrace the hearing confirmed an existing assessment and lien of $8,250 and set a 30-day deadline to obtain a demolition permit; staff said they would "freeze" additional accrual from the September 30, 2025 date if the permit is filed within that window. If the owner does not obtain permits, officials said fines will resume and be assessed retroactively.

For 32 Low Street staff said no building permits have been pulled and cited survey delays. The hearing entered an assessment for the property; the transcript contains two figures mentioned in different lines ($4,200 and $4,950). Officials characterized the amounts as conservative given the multi-year violations and urged the owner to secure permits to stop fines.

Regarding 13 Bay View, staff noted zoning had approved a permit in August 2025 but building-level drawings and engineering reviews remained incomplete. The hearing discussed an earlier cited assessment of $12,100 and then re-entered an assessment figure of $8,250 tied to the property’s file, while granting the owner a short window to advance permits.

For a separate property with a compromised roof and tarps, staff set an assessment of $4,950 and gave 30 days for a licensed roofing contractor to pull a permit; the hearing recorded a daily fine rate of $150 for that parcel if work is not begun.

Throughout the session officials emphasized options: obtain the appropriate permits and complete repairs to avoid accumulating additional fines, or decline to act and face escalating civil assessments, liens and potential forced sale. The hearing closed with staff directing the owner to make prompt progress on permits and contractors, and with assessments entered on the record for the four properties.