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Joplin board orders demolition of three dilapidated houses after hearings
Summary
After presentations from city building inspectors, the Joplin Building Board of Appeals on March 28 declared three properties—719 South Roosevelt, 1501 East Hill and 908 East 17th Street—dangerous and voted to order their demolition, citing fire damage, long-term neglect and safety hazards.
The Joplin Building Board of Appeals voted March 28 to declare three properties dangerous and ordered their demolition after city inspectors presented photographs, title searches and evidence that the structures are unsafe and economically infeasible to repair.
City staff called two building inspectors to testify. Jeff Adley, a building inspector for the city of Joplin, told the board that photographs taken in December 2024 and March 2025 showed boarded windows, a tarp on the roof and ‘‘extreme deterioration to the entire property,’’ and that the structure appeared open and exposed to the elements. Adley said title work shows prior appraisals and delinquent taxes and recommended demolition. The board voted to declare 719 South Roosevelt a dangerous building and ordered demolition, including outbuildings.
Jeff Oliver, another city building inspector, testified at a separate hearing about 1501 East Hill. Oliver described the house as unsecured, ‘‘open for unauthorized entry,’’ full of interior trash and debris, and suffering from rotted exterior materials and a failing roof. He told the board the property had been vacant for an extended period, efforts to rehabilitate under a previously pulled permit had stalled, and the evidence showed repair was not feasible. The board declared 1501 East Hill a dangerous building and ordered demolition, again including outbuildings.
In a third hearing the city presented photographs, utility termination records and title work for 908 East 17th Street showing long-term vacancy, no utilities for many years and advanced dilapidation. The inspector said the structure posed public-safety and health risks, that occupants had been living there without water or electricity, and recommended demolition. The board ordered demolition for 908 East 17th.
Andrea Nabla, representing the city at the hearing, offered the legal basis the staff relied on; motions cited Chapter 26, Articles 9 and 10 of the Joplin Code of Ordinances. Each demolition motion passed by voice vote; the board recorded the motions and directed staff to include outbuildings in the demolition orders.
City staff said the record would remain open for meeting minutes and that the city would attempt to coordinate social-services help for any occupants found on site. A staff member told the board that ordering demolition typically moves an occupied household to the top of local assistance lists so caseworkers can help re-house people affected by demolition.
The board took the actions as formal motions and closed the hearings. The meeting adjourned after the board handled a series of other routine agenda items and continuations.
