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New Bern commission details long-running demolition-by-neglect caseload and enforcement limits
Summary
Staff presented a color-coded tracking spreadsheet of demolition-by-neglect (DBN) properties, described a lengthy multi-step enforcement process that can take a year or more and said the commission will rely on owner cooperation, developer partners and the preservation foundation to address priority cases.
The New Bern Historic Preservation Commission heard an extended report on demolition-by-neglect cases at its June work session, during which staff described a color-coded tracking spreadsheet of properties of concern, the multi-step enforcement process and recent case outcomes.
Staff said the DBN spreadsheet ranks properties by urgency (red, yellow, white, green) and that the group had identified 16 properties in the top priority categories, with potential new listings raising the total to 21. Staff told the commission they had removed four properties from the urgent list after owner action and said one demolition case had been moved to the bottom of the list (710 New Street) after intervention.
Why it matters: The report underscored the limits of the commission's enforcement options and the long timelines involved: staff said that, if pursued vigilantly, moving a property through the full DBN enforcement process to fines and possible sheriff's sale would take a minimum of about a year to a year-and-a-half. Members of the public and some commissioners expressed frustration at how long some properties have lingered on the list.
Staff described how the DBN tracking tool reflects judgments by a prevention-and-neglect discussion group rather than strict chronology. The tracking spreadsheet, staff said, is an excerpt from a larger file (roughly 70 columns) that documents the 17-step process and related substeps used to move cases forward and record prior meetings and actions.
Staff gave several project updates: 512 Metcalfe Street was approved and will be removed from the active list; 614 New Street has a beam bearing issue on a porch and is being handled with the owner; 709 Broad Street was sold after a sheriff's auction and the new owner has begun repairs and filed a reroofing application; 811 Pollock had no new update but the New Bern Preservation Foundation is prepared to assist on outreach.
Staff also said the New Bern Preservation Foundation intends to help where feasible; a preservation foundation representative (Mr. Barnes) joined the discussion and staff gave him contact details for a contractor working on a problematic property. The commission discussed seeking more engagement from redevelopment authorities to assist owners who may need financial or redevelopment support.
Legal basis and limits: Staff said prevention-of-demolition-by-neglect authority is authorized by state statute but noted that enforcement requires substantial staff time and legal involvement in later stages; some communities use similar ordinances but many lack staff capacity to pursue every case.
Next steps: Staff will continue to track cases, pursue owner outreach and coordinate with partners such as the preservation foundation and redevelopment commission. The commission did not take formal enforcement action during the session.
