Building Standards Board orders demolition of five San Antonio properties after safety and narcotics concerns

The City of San Antonio Building Standards Board unanimously ordered the demolition of five deteriorated residential properties at its April 2, 2026, hearing, saying repeated safety incidents, unsecured structures and code violations make repair infeasible.

Chairman Dwayne Nelson convened the board at 9:02 a.m. and handled motions for each case after staff and police presentations. Jenny Ramirez, interim code administrator for Development Services, told the board that staff had found no scope-of-work plans, engineer reports or active permits for the properties presented and recommended demolition under City Code Article 8, Chapter 6.

Crystal Towne, a dangerous-premises officer with Development Services, described structural hazards and evidence of vagrant use at several properties and recommended demolition of 6254 West Commerce, 3134 Colima, 103 Erskine Place and others. On the first case, Officer Anthony Pena of SAPD’s West Patrol Safe Unit said investigations found repeated criminal activity and that a February search produced "over 70 grams worth of meth, and 30 grams of heroin," evidence he said supported staff’s recommendation to vacate and demolish the property.

Board members repeatedly noted that multiple properties lie within 1,000 feet of elementary or middle schools. Ramirez and presenting officers flagged proximity to Linda B. Johnson Elementary, Rhodes Middle and Vestal Elementary during different cases.

Votes at a glance: - 6254 West Commerce Street (Council District 6): declared a public nuisance and ordered demolished within 30 days. Motion by Fred Anderson; second by Robert Behnke. Carried unanimously. - 806 South Sandorio Avenue (Council District 5): declared a public nuisance and ordered demolished within 30 days. Motion by Robert Behnke; second by Anne Weiner. Carried unanimously. - 3134 Colima Street (Council District 5): declared a public nuisance and ordered demolished within 30 days. Motion by Anne Weiner; second by Ryan Baldwin. Carried unanimously. - 103 Erskine Place (Council District 1): declared a public nuisance and ordered demolished within 30 days. Motion by Ryan Baldwin; second by Sam Wyner. Carried unanimously. - 1206 Cantrell Drive (Council District 3): declared a public nuisance (main and accessory structures) and ordered demolished within 30 days. Motion by Ryan Baldwin; second by Robert Behnke. Carried unanimously.

During the presentations staff cited repeated DART inspections, photographs showing severe water and structural damage, missing or damaged siding and roof systems, exposed foundations and evidence of drug paraphernalia at several addresses. For example, Crystal Towne noted that 6254 West Commerce had no submitted scope of work, no permits and multiple administrative warrants executed to obtain photographs; Jaime Hassell and other officers described unsecured windows, missing skirting, and repeated re-securings at other sites.

Several board members asked whether owners had engaged the city’s vacant-building program or submitted repair plans. Jaime Hassell told the board that some representatives had responded to outreach but had not provided a scope of work, engineer’s report or permits. In one presentation staff recorded prior abatements and local abatement costs: 3134 Colima had two abatements with city costs of $1,228 (5/22/2025) and $853 (6/25/2025); 103 Erskine Place had a prior abatement costing $6,912; staff estimated roughly $2,000 total in abatements for 1206 Cantrell Drive since the officer’s involvement.

On 103 Erskine Place, staff said the owner occupies the main structure while an accessory structure is unoccupied and severely dilapidated. Hassan Alazawi reported that an earlier officer recorded the owner’s claim that "the city caused the collapse" but said the owner later told staff he did not know the cause and suggested vandalism; the board did not treat that as exculpatory evidence for the condition of the accessory structure.

No owners or responsible parties appeared in person for the cases presented or did not provide the required documentation, according to staff. The board’s actions were procedural orders under local code; staff advised owners and lienholders that they may appeal to civil district court within 30 days of the mailed order.

Judy Crum, development services specialist supervisor, closed the hearing with administrative updates including upcoming city-council consideration of several BSB appointments. Chairman Dwayne Nelson adjourned the meeting at 10:45 a.m.

The board’s orders require demolition or remediation timelines; next steps are issuance of written orders to owners, a 30-day compliance window and potential city abatement if owners fail to act, consistent with the City Code process outlined at the hearing.