Board OKs repair order after sale for Burnett house, orders demolition of accessory

The San Antonio Building Standards Board voted on June 4 to declare 1911 Burnett Street a public nuisance and to require repairs to the main structure after the property’s sale is completed, while ordering the accessory building demolished within 30 days.

Dangerous premises officer Cynthia Santana told the board the single‑story, 1,292‑square‑foot main structure has missing roof covering, bowed rafters, unpermitted foundation work and new electrical wiring installed without permits, leaving exposed wiring and areas that pose hazards for first responders. She recommended repair of the main and demolition of the accessory, citing violations of City Code Article 8, Chapter 6.

Owner Reginald Williams told the board he purchased the house via a rent‑to‑own arrangement and said rising costs and a disability made repairs unaffordable. “I would like to get…an extension. Let the people buy the house and let them fix it up because they can afford it,” Williams said, asking the board to allow a sale to close first.

Lienholder Ramesh Mahbabani said a buyer is ready to close but is waiting for the city’s payoff figures; he told the board the city lien is about $5,000 and that the title company is ready once the payoff is provided. Savita Rai of the city attorney’s office confirmed staff had seen some documents but that privileged attorney‑client communications would not be shared with the board.

Board member Paul Hernandez initially moved for a 30‑day repair timeline, which drew discussion about whether that period was feasible before closing and whether staff should have discretion to extend deadlines. After a tie vote on the first motion, Robert Behnke moved (seconded by Fred Anderson) to find the property a public nuisance and to order repairs to the main structure to be completed within 30 days after closing, free of trash and debris, and to demolish the accessory structure within 30 days and secure the site. The motion passed by recorded vote.

The board’s action distinguishes between discussion and formal direction: it set a binding demolition order for the accessory and a timed repair order for the main structure that begins after the property’s closing, with staff authorized to manage timelines and follow up as needed. The board did not specify additional financial penalties in its motion.

Next steps: the city will provide the lien payoff figures to the title company so the sale can close, and staff will monitor compliance with the post‑closing repair order and the accessory demolition requirement.