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Board approves demolition of a fire‑damaged house at 326 South Kentucky after structural assessment
Summary
Staff recommended, and the board unanimously approved, a certificate of appropriateness to demolish a house at 326 South Kentucky after a structural engineer and staff found termite, water and fire damage that left the building unsafe; the owner was not present for the hearing.
Under agenda item HP2026-0037 the board considered a request by the property owner for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish a house at 326 South Kentucky that suffered an interior fire and subsequent deterioration.
Staff said the house, constructed around 1920 and classified as a low‑priority resource, had been issued a prior COA for repairs after the fire. However, when contractors removed drywall during cleanup they discovered extensive termite, water and missing framing that a structural engineer judged to compromise safety. "It can't meet current safety standards, and repairs really aren't able to be made without completely redoing all the framing and which is basically a demolition," staff said.
Board members questioned why the owners were not present and discussed whether the condition reflected demolition by neglect. Staff replied that earlier interior/exterior renovations (noted in packet as occurring in 2017–2018) preceded the fire and that the most recent engineering assessments found the structure unsafe. A motion to approve the demolition certificate passed unanimously; staff recommended approval based on safety and structural findings.
