San Antonio board orders demolition of fire-damaged house at 1449 Aranza Avenue

On May 7, 2026, the San Antonio board voted to declare the property known as 1449 Aranza Avenue a public nuisance and ordered demolition and securing within 30 days after staff and field-officer testimony described extensive fire and water damage and repeated illegal entry.

Bryan Garza, a city services official who presented the case, said the property had “fire and water damage, graffiti, exposed panels and failing foundations” and concluded that “el personal recomienda demolición.” The record shows multiple notices and inspections dating back to 2023 and photographs taken in April 2026 documenting collapsed walls, missing doors and holes that left the structure exposed to the elements.

A field officer told the board he had responded repeatedly to the location and observed entry and activity there; he also reported a history of calls for assaults and narcotics activity near the address. That testimony prompted concern about public safety and emergency-response access.

The board moved to order demolition, citing the city code subsections read into the record and concluding the structure was not feasible to repair. The motion directed demolition and securing of the property within 30 days of the order. The vote passed with a recorded tally of 4 yes, 0 no and 1 abstention.

The order is subject to the owner’s appeal rights as described by staff; the meeting record included instructions that appeals must be filed in court within 30 days of mailing the order. The board did not set a specific contractor or funding source for the demolition in the record; the action reflects the board’s finding that the property currently poses a threat to public health and safety.