TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kelly Strickland, 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: March 24, 2025
RE:
Title
Uninhabitable Structures: Demolition Recommendations
1307 Coburn Street District 2
5525 Meharry Drive District 3
1661 Baysden Court District 4
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2,3,4
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Safe & Secure Community; Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work & Recreate
Executive Summary:
Staff requests that the Council approve demolition ordinances for three residential buildings deemed dangerous.
Background:
1307 Coburn Street- PIN 0447-31-8163
The City Inspector is obligated to address conditions that violate the Dwellings and Buildings Minimum Standards Code of Fayetteville, NC. This vacant residential property was condemned as dangerous on October 3, 2022 due to fire. The structure requires substantial repairs, including porch framing and flooring, porch columns, ceiling and ceiling joists, flooring, electrical wiring, fixtures and devices, walls, doors and frames, windowpanes, frames and sashes, roofing material, flashing and trim/fascia, Roof rafters and sheathing.
A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on December 8, 2024, and the hearing was held on December 18, 2024, with the property owner and one other attending. Following this hearing, an order was issued on December 19, 2024, directing the owner to either repair or demolish the structure within 60 days. The notice provided contact information for the City of Fayetteville Economic & Community Development Department, as well as details on available programs to assist with repair and demolition expenses.
As of now, no repairs have been made, and there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program. Emergency calls to the property in the last 24 months are currently unavailable, property has one current code violation, with $243.75 in City assessments and $5,895.42 in outstanding taxes. This property has a demolition score of 76 points on the matrix.
5525 Meharry Drive- PIN 0429-27-6363
The City Inspector is obligated to address conditions that violate the Dwellings and Buildings Minimum Standards Code of Fayetteville, NC. This vacant residential property was condemned as dangerous on November 6, 2024, due to fire. The structure requires substantial repairs, including Porch framing and flooring, Porch columns, Ceiling and ceiling joists, flooring, electrical wiring, fixtures and devices, walls, doors and frames, windowpanes, frames and sashes, roofing material, flashing and trim/fascia, roof rafters and sheathing.
The hearing regarding the property’s condition was held on December 18, 2024, with the property owner attending. Following this hearing, an order was issued on December 19, 2024, directing the owner to either repair or demolish the structure within 60 days. The notice provided contact information for the City of Fayetteville Economic & Community Development Department, as well as details on available programs to assist with repair and demolition expenses.
As of now, no repairs have been made, and there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program. The property has had 13 emergency calls in the past 24 months. In addition, property has accumulated six code violations, with no City assessments and $885.86 in outstanding taxes. This property has a demolition score of 83 points on the matrix.
1661 Baysden Court- PIN 0418-96-1283
The City Inspector is obligated to address conditions that violate the Dwellings and Buildings Minimum Standards Code of Fayetteville, NC. This vacant residential property was condemned to be dangerous on April 12, 2023, due to fire. The structure requires substantial repairs, walls, doors and door frames, window screens, screen doors, windowpanes, frames and sashes, roofing material, flashing, trim and fascia, roof rafters and sheathing, foundation wall and piers.
The first hearing regarding the property’s condition was held on January 10, 2024, with the property owner failing to attend. A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on December 8, 2024. A subsequent hearing was held on December 19, 2024, and again, the owner did not attend. Following this hearing, an order was issued on December 24, 2024, directing the owner to either repair or demolish the structure within 60 days. The notice provided contact information for the City of Fayetteville Economic & Community Development Department, as well as details on available programs to assist with repair and demolition expenses.
As of now, no repairs have been made, and there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program. The property has had 8 emergency calls in the past 24 months. In addition, property has accumulated two code violations, with no City assessments and $2,171.14 in outstanding taxes. This property has a demolition score of 74 points on the matrix.
Issues/Analysis:
The subject properties are substandard and significantly contribute to neighborhood blight and nuisance. This undermines the City’s Strategic Operating Plan Goal 1, which aims to enhance community well-being and maintain high standards for our neighborhoods.
Budget Impact:
The demolition costs for these structures will be established through a competitive bidding process conducted after the adoption of the demolition ordinance. Please note that additional, yet-to-be-determined expenses for asbestos testing and abatement may also be required.
Options:
Adopt the ordinance and demolish the structures.
Abstain from any action and allow the structures to remain.
Defer any actions for a later date.
Recommended Action:
Staff strongly recommend that the Council adopt the ordinances authorizing the demolition of these structures. We will continue to engage with property owners up until the demolition is scheduled to begin, working to either bring the structures into compliance, secure voluntary demolition, or facilitate violation abatement with the help of a Community Development grant.
Should we achieve voluntary compliance, we will present a demolition rescission ordinance to the Council to remove the initial demolition order from the property deed. Prompt Council approval of the demolition ordinances is crucial, as it enhances our leverage with property owners and is the only means to stay or suspend demolition proceedings after an order has been adopted.
Attachments:
Aerial maps, violation photos, proposed ordinances, Scoring Matrix and PowerPoint presentation