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: May 27, 2025
RE:
Title
Uninhabitable Structures: Demolition Recommendations
6438 Applecross Avenue District 7
3121 Fort Bragg Road District 9
4907 Schmidt Street District 9
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
7,9
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 one commercial building deemed dangerous, two residential buildings identified as a blight.
Background:
6438 Applecross Avenue - PIN 0406-18-5037
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 August 23, 2023 due to negligence. The structure needs significant repairs, steps, porch framing, porch flooring, walls, doors and door frames, windowpanes, frames and sashes, roofing material, flashing and trim/fascia, roof rafters and sheathing, foundation.
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 90 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 one emergency call in the past 24 months. The property has accumulated 10 code violations. $4,236.07 in City assessments and $6,860.19 in unpaid taxes. The property has a demolition score of 75.5 points on the matrix.
3121 Fort Bragg Road - PIN 0428-11-2619
The City Inspector is obligated to address conditions that violate the Dwellings and Buildings Minimum Standards Code of Fayetteville, NC. This vacant commercial property was condemned as dangerous by the Chief Building Official on December 6, 2024 due to health and/or safety hazard rendering the building dangerous to life, health and other property. The defects needing repair include walls, doors and door frames, electrical wiring, fixtures and devices, heating equipment, window frames and sashes. The hearing regarding the property’s condition was held on February 20, 2025, with the property owner attending.
Following this hearing, an order was issued on February 24, 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 11 emergency calls in the past 24 months. The property has four code violations, with no City assessments and no outstanding taxes. This property has a demolition score of 68 points on the matrix.
4907 Schmidt Street - PIN 0418-27-9917
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 14, 2024, due to negligence. The structure requires substantial repairs, walls, porch railings & columns, doors and door 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 January 30, 2025, with the property owner attending.
Following this hearing, an order was issued on January 31, 2025, directing the owner to either repair or demolish the structure within 90 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 three emergency calls in the past 24 months. In addition, property has accumulated eight code violations, no City assessments and $510.00 in outstanding taxes. This property has a demolition score of 66.5 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