City staff review dangerous-building process and commission concurs with demolition of unsafe 779 Yuba St.

City inspectors and Safe Built staff walked commissioners through Moskegan's dangerous-building enforcement process on May 12, outlining steps from complaint or staff discovery through notice, Housing Board of Appeals review, owner appeals and, where necessary, commission concurrence to order demolition.

Steve Stout of the inspections team described field steps: documentation and exterior photographs, title searches to identify owners, certified and posted notices, hearings before the Housing Board of Appeals and the 21-day appeal right to circuit court. Stout said staff tries to work with owners to avoid demolition, using inspections, trades reviews and time-limited orders where possible.

Stout recalled repeated outreach on the property at 779 Yuba Street, including multiple mailed notices, posted orders and an HBA determination after inspections showed exterior walls bowing, crumbling foundation and partial collapse. On April 16 staff observed smoke at the building and responders found an unauthorized occupant cooking; with interior conditions unsafe, staff recommended demolition. "Given the extent of the structural damage, the chief building official deemed an interior inspection unsafe," Stout said.

Commissioners voted to concur with the Housing Board of Appeals' determination and authorize demolition, noting staff had followed the required notice and hearing steps and that no owner responses had been received. The city will proceed with demolition procurement, asbestos abatement as needed, and recovery of costs via lien and tax roll if applicable.