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: November 25, 2024
RE:
Title
Uninhabitable Structures: Demolition Recommendations
215 S. King Street District 2
1210 Durden Lane District 4
850 Rembrandt Drive District 7
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2,4,7
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Safe & Secure Community; Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work & Recreate
Executive Summary:
Staff requests that Council approve demolition ordinances for three residential buildings that has been determined to be dangerous.
Background:
215 S. King Street- PIN 0447-01-7210
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 a dangerous structure on March 28, 2023. The building is in severe disrepair and requires extensive structural repairs, including but not limited to Exterior steps, Porch framing and flooring, porch railings and columns, Floor framing and flooring, Ceiling and ceiling joists, Walls, Doors and door frames, Windowpanes, frames and sashes, Roofing material, trim and fascia, Roof rafters and sheathing, Foundation wall and piers.
The first hearing regarding the property’s condition was held on November 7, 2023, with the property owner failing to attend. A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on November 12, 2023. A subsequent hearing was held on November 27, 2023, and again, the owner did not attend. Following this hearing, an order was issued on December 28, 2023, 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 the present, no repairs have been made, and the property remains in an unsafe condition. Additionally, there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program. Over the past 24 months, the property has been the subject of 10 emergency calls. There are five active code violation cases on record, with $284.63 in City assessments and $992.16 in outstanding taxes. The property has been assigned a demolition score of 76 points on the city's matrix.
1210 Durden Lane- PIN 0408-29-3785
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 December 21, 2022. The structure needs significant repairs, including Porch railings and columns, Walls, Doors and door frames, Windowpanes, Window frames and sashes, Roofing material, flashing, trim and fascia, Roof rafters and sheathing.
A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on October 29, 2023, and the hearing was held on November 16, 2023. The owner did not attend the hearing. Following the hearing, an order to repair or demolish the structure within 60 days was issued on November 20, 2023. 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. There have been no emergency calls to the property in the last 24 months, but the property has accumulated seven code violation cases. Additionally, there is $4,771 in City assessments and $12,179.68 in unpaid taxes. The property has a demolition score of 74 points on the matrix.
850 Rembrandt Drive- PIN 9487-61-2652
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 December 16, 2022. The structure requires substantial repairs, including Exterior steps, Porch railings and columns, Windowpanes, frames and sashes, Roofing material, trim and fascia, Roof rafters and sheathing.
The initial hearing on the property was held on March 9, 2023, but the property owner did not attend. A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on December 10, 2023. A second hearing took place on December 27, 2023; however, the owner (who is now deceased) did not attend, though contact was made with the owner’s daughter, who stated she had no plans for the property. Following the hearing, an order to repair or demolish the structure within 60 days was issued on December 28, 2023, with the notice providing information on available resources for repair and demolition assistance.
As of now, no repairs have been made, and there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program. The property has been the subject of six emergency calls in the past 24 months. In addition, there are four active code violation cases, totaling $870.97 in City assessments and $8,974.62 in outstanding taxes. This property has a demolition score of 89 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