TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kelly Olivera, 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: May 22, 2023
RE:
Title
Uninhabitable Structure Demolition Recommendation
416 Alfalfa Street District 2
887 Winslow Street District 2
111 Jasper Street District 4
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2,4
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 building determined to be dangerous and one to be blight.
Background:
416 Alfalfa Street - PIN 0447-04-9375-
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 home that was inspected and condemned as a dangerous structure on November 4, 2022. Exterior steps need repair, Porch framing and flooring, Porch railings and columns need repair, Walls, Doors and door frames need repair, Window panes, frames and sashes need repair, roofing material, trim and fascia need repair, Roof rafters and sheathing need repair. A hearing on the condition of the structure was conducted on January 9, 2023, at which owners did not appear. Notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer newspaper December 25, 2022. A subsequent Hearing Order to repair or demolish the structure within 60 days was issued and mailed to the owner on January 10, 2022 which also provided City of Fayetteville Economic & Community Developments contact information for programs that may be able to assist with repairs and/or demolition expenses. To date, there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program, no repairs to the structure and the structure has not been demolished. In the past 24 months, there has been 2 calls for 911 service to the property. There has been 3 code violation case with $1,222.17 in City assessments and $1,866.98 in outstanding taxes.
887 Winslow Street - PIN 0436-39-1546-
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 home that was inspected and condemned as a dangerous structure on November 2, 2022. Exterior steps need repair, Porch framing and flooring need repair, Porch railings and columns need repair, Stair railings need repair, Walls, Doors and door frames need repair, Window panes, frames and sashes need repair, roofing material, trim and fascia need repair, Roof rafters and sheathing need repair. Notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer newspaper December 11, 2022. A hearing on the condition of the structure was conducted on December 22, 2022, at which owners did not appear. A subsequent Hearing Order to repair or demolish the structure within 90 days was issued and mailed to the owner on December 29, 2022 which also provided City of Fayetteville Economic & Community Developments contact information for programs that may be able to assist with repairs and/or demolition expenses. To date, there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program, no repairs to the structure and the structure has not been demolished. In the past 24 months, there has been 1 call for 911 service to the property. There has been 3 code violation case with $278.19 in City assessments and $2,327.72 in outstanding taxes.
111 Jasper Street - PIN 0428-86-6041-
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 home that was inspected and condemned as a dangerous structure on September 28, 2022. Exterior steps, Porch framing and flooring need repair, Porch railings and columns, Walls, Doors and door frames need repair, Window panes, frames and sashes need repair, roofing material, flashing and trim/fascia need repair, Roof rafters and sheathing need repair. Notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer newspaper October 30, 2022. A hearing on the condition of the structure was conducted on November 14, 2022, at which owners did not appear. A subsequent Hearing Order to repair or demolish the structure within 90 days was issued and mailed to the owner on November 15, 2022 which also provided City of Fayetteville Economic & Community Developments contact information for programs that may be able to assist with repairs and/or demolition expenses. To date, there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program, no repairs to the structure and the structure has not been demolished. In the past 24 months, there has been 11 calls for 911 service to the property. There has been 11 code violation case with no City assessments and no outstanding taxes.
Issues/Analysis:
The subject properties are sub-standard and detrimental to the surrounding neighborhood and promotes nuisance 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 conducted after adoption of the demolition ordinances. There will be additional unknown costs for asbestos testing and abatement as needed.
Options:
Adopt these ordinances and demolish the structures.
Abstain from any action and allow the structures to remain.
Defer any actions to a later date.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends the Council move to adopt these ordinances authorizing demolition of the structures as the second action, tonight, related to these properties. 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 a Community Development grants.
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, proposed ordinances, and Power Point Presentation