Board continues hearing on unsafe building at 7006 Oakland Road to Aug. 13

Renee Raffala, Lawrence City director of public works, presented photos and a written packet documenting repeated property-maintenance violations and fire damage at 7006 Oakland Road and asked the board to continue the public hearing to give the current owner an opportunity to respond.

"This property sustained a fire back on 10/04/2021," Raffala said, and she told the board the structure was declared unsafe on 10/25/2021, has remained vacant since, and has incurred property-maintenance liens totaling over $7,000. Raffala said staff documented conditions on 06/24/2026, that the roof has caved in, windows are open and the basement contains standing water and odor, and that children have occasionally gained access to the unsecured building.

Raffala told the board the lot was sold at tax sale in 2015 and has changed hands multiple times; the current recorded owner is 2 Jets LLC, which purchased the property on June 5, 2026. Staff mailed certified notice of the hearing to that owner and Raffala asked the board to continue the matter to the board's next meeting so the owner can present a plan or the board can consider orders or modifications.

The chair said he had driven past the property recently and observed the exterior deterioration. After discussion the board agreed to keep the public hearing open and continue it to the board's August 13 meeting for further consideration under the cited Indiana code. The hearing will remain open to allow the owner to respond and for staff to present any additional information.