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Council approves razing of blighted house at 153 Dawson Street
Summary
Council approved a request to raze (demolish) a hazardous property at 153 Dawson Street; staff said city crews would perform demolition, costs are charged to the owner and can be recovered through taxes or county processes, and council discussed the land bank example and the need to reserve funds for potential liabilities.
The Ishpeming City Council approved a request to raze a deteriorated house at 153 Dawson Street in the Salsbury neighborhood, a step city officials said is intended to address blight and return the lot to productive use.
Staff described a process in which city crews would perform the demolition and charge the property owner; if the owner fails to pay, the charges could be added to the property tax bill and, if necessary, handled through county foreclosure or land bank processes. A council member noted the city might need to cover some demolition costs temporarily and later seek reimbursement if the county places the parcel into foreclosure or the land bank handles disposal.
Councilors discussed a recent example (the Matson House on Third Street) where cleanup costs and outstanding utility charges required negotiation with the land bank. Several members said it would be prudent to set aside a financial reserve to cover potential liabilities if the city performs multiple demolitions and does not fully recover costs. One councilor said the risk of a single demolition was outweighed by the community benefits of removing a hazardous structure.
A motion to approve the request to raze the structure at 153 Dawson Street passed on the council floor.
