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Joplin board declares 519 North Pearl a dangerous building and orders demolition
Summary
After a formal dangerous-building hearing Oct. 24, the Joplin Building Board of Appeals found 519 North Pearl structurally unsafe and ordered demolition; the owner told the board a contractor plans to demolish the house next week, and staff outlined the 30-day appeal window and subsequent abatement schedule.
The Joplin Building Board of Appeals declared 519 North Pearl a dangerous building and ordered its demolition following a formal hearing on Oct. 24.
Shelly Dawson, the city’s dangerous-building inspector lead, testified that inspection photos from November 2024 and May 2025 show extensive structural decay. "The roof of the porch ... is falling in, it's rotted, falling in," Dawson told the board while describing a rotted mudsill, broken windows and interior stair and kitchen deterioration. She said the city posted legal notices and sent certified letters to the property owner and that a title search lists Caleb Adams as the owner.
The owner, Caleb Adams, addressed the board at the hearing and said he has arranged for a contractor to remove the structure. "I have somebody that's gonna demolish it, like, next week," Adams said, adding that he understands required demo permits and utility releases must be secured before work begins.
City Attorney Andrew Knobloch led the hearing, entered photographic exhibits and certified-mail notices into evidence and explained the ordinance violations staff identified under Joplin Code (dilapidation, decay, electrical and mechanical system failures and attractive-nuisance concerns). Dawson recommended the board order demolition, saying the structure was not feasible to rehabilitate.
After hearing evidence and owner comments, the board voted to declare the property dangerous and ordered demolition to include any outbuildings. Staff told the owner and interested neighbors the owner or a contractor has 30 days to file an appeal; if no appeal is filed the city will proceed with publication, asbestos testing/abatement requirements and advertising the work for bid — a process staff estimates typically takes another 30–60 days before contractor mobilization.
Neighbors who attended the hearing expressed relief that the matter moved forward. The board clerk noted the decision and recorded the motion; the board directed staff to follow statutory publication and abatement steps required before physical demolition.
What happens next: the owner can appeal within 30 days, or proceed with privately arranged demolition that meets city permit and utility-disconnect requirements. If the city carries out the demolition, costs are recorded as a lien on the property.
