TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Michael Gibson, Interim Assistant City Manager
Dr. Gerald Newton, AICP, Development Services Director
David Steinmetz, Development Services Assistant Director
FROM: Dereke D. Planter Jr., Code Enforcement Supervisor
DATE: October 24, 2022
RE:
Title
Uninhabitable Structures Demolition Recommendations
547 Orange Street District 2
1416 Coley Drive District 2
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Safe & Secure Community; Goal 4: Desirable Place To Live, Work & Recreate
Executive Summary:
Staff request for demolition ordinance approval on two residential buildings determined to be blight.
Background:
547 Orange Street - PIN 0437-57-3964-
The City Inspector is required to correct conditions that are found to be in violation of the Dwellings and Buildings Minimum Standards. The structure is a vacant residential building that was inspected and condemned as a blight structure on June 13, 2022. Exterior steps need repair; Porch framing and flooring need repair; Porch railings and columns need repair; Doors and door frames need repair; Window panes need repair; Window frames and sashes need repair. Notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer newspaper July 17, 2022. A hearing on the condition of the structure was conducted on July 29, 2022 at which the owner did not appear. A subsequent Hearing Order to repair or demolish the structure within 60 days was issued and mailed to the owner on August 1, 2022. To date, there has been no repairs to the structure and the structure has not been demolished. In the past 24 months, there has been 6 calls for 911 service to the property. There have been 7 code violation case with no City assessments and $899.67 in outstanding taxes.
1416 Coley Drive - PIN 0438-02-4404-
The City Inspector is required to correct conditions that are found to be in violation of the Dwellings and Buildings Minimum Standards. The structure is a vacant residential building that was inspected and condemned as a blight structure on January 24, 2022. Window panes need repair; window frames need repair; roofing material, flashing and trim/fascia need repair. Notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer newspaper February 20, 2022. A hearing on the condition of the structure was conducted on March 4, 2022, at which 1 of 17 owners did appear. A subsequent Hearing Order to repair or demolish the structure within 180 days was issued and mailed to the owner on March 7, 2022. To date, there has been no inspected and approved repairs to the structure and the structure has not been demolished. In the past 24 months, there has been 3 calls for 911 service to the property. There have been 2 code violation cases with no City assessments and $1,033.42 outstanding taxes.
Issues/Analysis:
The subject properties are sub-standard and detrimental to the surrounding neighborhood and promotes nuisances and blight, contrary to the City’s Strategic Operating Plan Goal 1.
Budget Impact:
The demolition cost of these structures will be determined at a later date subject to a competitive bidding process to be conducted after adoption of the demolition ordinances. There may be additional unknown costs for asbestos testing and abatement if needed.
Options:
Adopt the ordinances and demolish the structures.
Abstain from any action and allow the structures to remain.
Defer any action to a later date.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends the Council move to adopt the ordinances authorizing demolition of the structures. Council is advised that staff will continue to work with property owners up until the actual beginning of the City-ordered demolition to either bring the structures into a code-compliant state, to obtain voluntary owner-initiated demolition, or to achieve abatement of the violation with the assistance of the Blight Removal Program.
In the event we are successful in voluntary compliance, we will bring Council a demolition rescission ordinance to remove the original demolition order from clouding the deed of the property. We prefer to get demolition ordinances approved as Council action increases our leverage with property owners in obtaining code compliance. Only an action by the Council can stay or suspend demolition proceedings after a demolition order has been adopted.
Attachments:
Aerial maps, violation photos, and proposed ordinance