Joplin Board of Appeals orders demolition for multiple dangerous properties, sets more hearings

The Joplin Building Board of Appeals on April 24 declared multiple properties dangerous and ordered demolition after city staff presented photographic evidence, title work and a record of mailed notices.

City dangerous-buildings staff described severely decayed structures, missing siding, rotted porches and compromised roofs at several sites and recommended demolition. "The porch is decaying and falling. The roof has been compromised and is falling in," the city's dangerous-building lead testified, describing exterior and structural failures she said make the properties unsafe and uninhabitable.

The board voted to declare 1610 South Missouri a dangerous building and ordered demolition including outbuildings, citing Joplin Code Chapter 26 subsections the staff identified. The same finding and demolition order was approved for 2029 South Byers and for 2027 South Bird after staff admitted photographic exhibits, title work and proof of published legal notices into evidence.

For each case, staff described attempts to contact owners and the sequence of mailed notices. In the 1610 South Missouri case, staff presented a placard dated April 14, 2025; title work showing Manuel Gomez as owner; and a packet of notices including return receipts. For 2029 South Byers and 2027 South Bird, staff introduced photographs (multiple sets), title work, and Joplin Globe legal notices run in March or April as the board admitted them to the record.

Board members moved, seconded and voted 'aye' on motions to declare the properties dangerous and order demolition; the meeting transcript records the motions and that the motions carried. Where owners or agents appeared and reported progress (for example, new owners who said they intended to pull demolition permits), the board continued some items to allow the owners time to act. Several other properties were continued to the board's May 22 agenda (one item was continued to June 26).

The board cited the municipal dangerous-building code during decisions. City staff explained the practical options for owners: repair and remove the property from the board's list, sell the property, quitclaim it to the city, or decline to act and have the city perform the demolition and place a tax lien for costs.

Next steps: properties ordered demolished will be processed under the city's administrative procedures; items continued were placed on the May 22 agenda for progress reports or demolition hearings.