Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Buildings topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Abbeville designates 700 Branch Street abandoned, advances disaster‑aid and building recovery ordinances
Summary
Council certified 700 Branch Street as an abandoned building site under state law, approved amendments to its disaster-aid ordinance to cover occupied structures and utility bills, and advanced an update to the city's Building Recovery & Registration Act.
Abbeville City Council on June 15 unanimously certified a property at 700 Branch Street as an abandoned building site under the South Carolina Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act (Title 12, Chapter 67). The council approved Resolution No. 10-2026 after a motion by Councilmember Matthew H. Gambrell and a second by Councilmember John Sutherland.
Council also amended and approved Ordinance No. 13-2026 on second reading with edits to include occupied structures and ongoing utility bill requirements in the city's proposed disaster-aid waiver program. The amendment and the second-reading approval passed unanimously following a motion to amend by Councilmember Gambrell and a subsequent approval motion.
Separately, council approved first reading of Ordinance No. 14-2026, which updates Chapter 5 of the Abbeville Code to revise the 'Abbeville Building Recovery & Registration Act.' The first reading passed unanimously on a motion by Councilmember Edwards and seconded by Councilmember Crawford.
Taken together, the actions on June 15 give the city additional administrative tools for addressing neglected properties and for providing limited disaster-related financial relief to affected individuals. The council did not adopt implementing rules, funding allocations, or application procedures at the meeting; staff were authorized to proceed consistent with the ordinances and return with further recommendations as needed.
