City warns worm‑farm operator: remove materials or staff will board up 3405 E. 4th Ave. on March 26

City building staff on March 3 provided an extended update on 3405 East 4th Avenue — known in public discussion as the “worm farm” operation — tracing compliance issues back to 2010 and reporting continued, unauthorized operations and incomplete repairs following a partial collapse.

Building official Jason Lady summarized a long timeline of permits, expired inspections and incomplete shoring and repairs, including a May 2024 windstorm that partially collapsed the south portion of the structure. Lady said permits for interior demolition, shoring and south‑loading dock repair were issued at various points but closed without completed inspections.

Lady told council that on a Feb. 25, 2026 site visit he found business operations had expanded inside the building without any certificate of occupancy or completed inspections. Staff issued a notice of violation and said they will board up the building March 26, 2026, if materials are not removed and operations cease. After boarding, entry will be restricted and trespass enforcement will apply except for supervised retrieval of possessions.

Kendall Evans of Knackle Studios, who said he is acting as a communications/operations point person for the owner, told council his team believes the project has promise but acknowledged the compliance problems and said he will provide weekly communications with staff. Evans said, “we're brought in to communicate because it is completely broken down and we know where the fault lies.”

Council members expressed frustration with the prolonged, repetitive permit issues and staff recommended a requirement that the owner submit a complete set of building plans under a single permit before further work proceeds. If the owner does not comply after the notice period, staff said the matter could return to council for condemnation.