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: April 28, 2025
RE:
Title
Uninhabitable Structures: Demolition Recommendations
206 Campbell Avenue District 2
816 E. Orange Street District 2
1087 North Street District 2
850 Van Dyke Place District 7
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2,7
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, one residential building identified as a blight.
Background:
206 Campbell Avenue - PIN 0437-61-1518
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 inspected and condemned as dangerous on November 9, 2021 due to negligence. The structure needs significant repairs, steps, porch framing, porch flooring, porch railings, porch columns, ceiling and ceiling joists, doors and door frames, devices, walls, windowpanes, frames and sashes, walls, electrical wiring, devices and fixtures, roofing material, flashing and trim/fascia, roof rafters and sheathing. The initial administrative hearing regarding the condition of the subject property was held on December 30, 2021. The property owner failed to appear. A building permit was subsequently issued on January 5, 2022, and the owner was granted three extensions; however, no inspections were ever conducted under that permit. Most recently, a new permit was issued on March 28, 2025, and as of this date, no inspections have been carried out pursuant to that permit.
A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on January 19, 2025, and the hearing was held on February 3, 2025, with the property owner attending. Following this hearing, an order was issued on February 5, 2025, directing the owner to either repair or demolish the structure within 60 days. The notice included information about the City’s Economic & Community Development Department and available programs to help with repairs and demolition costs.
To date, there has been no enrollment in the Blight Removal Program, and no repairs have been made to the property, which remains in its condemned state. The property has had three emergency calls in the past 24 months. property has accumulated five code violations. No City assessments and no unpaid taxes. The property has a demolition score of 75.5 points on the matrix.
816 E. Orange Street - PIN 0437-59-9146
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 blight on October 3, 2022 due to negligence. The structure requires substantial repairs, porch framing and flooring, porch railings and columns, ceiling and ceiling joists, walls, doors and frames, windowpanes, frames and sashes, roofing material, flashing and trim/fascia, roof rafters and sheathing. The first hearing regarding the property’s condition was held on December 6, 2024, with the property owner failing to attend.
A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on January 19, 2025, and the hearing was held on January 30, 2025, with the property owner failing to attend. Following this hearing, an order was issued on January 31, 2025, 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 12 emergency calls in the past 24 months. property has 10 code violations, with $294.94 in City assessments and no outstanding taxes. This property has a demolition score of 77 points on the matrix.
1087 North Street - PIN 0438-70-0854
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 March 19, 2024, due to fire. The structure requires substantial repairs, ceiling and ceiling joists, electrical wiring, fixtures and devices, walls, windowpanes, frames and sashes, roofing material, flashing and trim/fascia, roof rafters and sheathing.
The first hearing regarding the property’s condition was held on December 18, 2024, with the property owner failing to attend.
A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on January 19, 2025, and the hearing was held on January 31, 2025, with the property owner failing to attend. Following this hearing, an order was issued on February 3, 2025, 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 five emergency calls in the past 24 months. In addition, property has accumulated six code violations, with $1,321.88 in City assessments and no outstanding taxes. This property has a demolition score of 90.5 points on the matrix.
850 Van Dyke Place - PIN 9487-61-9452
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 19, 2023, due to negligence. The structure requires substantial repairs, walls, steps, porch railings, doors and door frames, windowpanes, frames and sashes, roofing material, flashing and trim/fascia, roof rafters and sheathing, underpinning.
A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on January 5, 2025. The first hearing regarding the property’s condition was held on January 16, 2025, with the property owner failing to attend. Following this hearing, an order was issued on January 31, 2025, 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 six (overdose) emergency calls in the past 24 months. In addition, property has accumulated six code violations, with no City assessments and $5,139.66 in outstanding taxes. This property has a demolition score of 75.5 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