TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Jodi Phelps, 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 27, 2026
RE:Title
Adopt Ordinances for Uninhabitable Structures: Demolition Recommendations
1299 Bingham Drive - District 7
5329 Murchison Road - District 3
Title
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COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
3, 7
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Safe & Secure Community
Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work & Recreate
Executive Summary:
Staff requests Council approval to adopt demolition ordinances for one residential determined to be dangerous and one commercial structure that have been determined to be blight.
Background:
1299 BINGHAM DR PIN: 0406-47-5257
This residential structure was condemned as unsafe and unfit for human occupancy on April 2, 2025. Upon inspection, the City Inspector determined that the dwelling posed a danger to the public and documented the need for extensive repairs, including damage to exterior steps, porch framing, porch railings and columns, stair railings, walls, doors, door frames, windowpanes, window frames/sashes, roofing materials, flashing, trim, and fascia.
A public notice of the hearing was published in The Fayetteville Observer on November 23, 2025. The hearing was held on December 9, 2025, at which time the property owner was not present. An order was issued on December 11, 2025, directing the owner to either repair the structure to bring it into full compliance with applicable codes or demolish the building within 60 days. The notice also outlined financial assistance opportunities available through the City’s Economic & Community Development Department, including programs designed to help offset the cost of substantial repairs or demolition.
As of this date, there is no record of the property owner enrolling in the City’s Blight Removal Program or any other assistance initiative. The structure remains condemned and has not been rehabilitated to meet minimum code requirements.
Within the past 24 months, there have been three reported emergency service calls associated with the property. The site has accumulated three documented code violations. There is currently a balance of $3,187.38 in City assessments; however, there are no delinquent property taxes.
Under the City’s demolition evaluation matrix, the property has received a score of 76 points.
5329 MURCHISON RD PIN: 0429-15-5344
On August 5, 2025, initial conversations were held with the owner regarding the blighted conditions of the property. The commercial structure was inspected and subsequently condemned as unsafe on August 21, 2025. During the inspection, the City Inspector determined that the building posed a danger to the public and documented the need for extensive repairs, including damage to window glazing, panes and frames, walls, roofing materials, flashing, trim, fascia, roof rafters, ceilings, and protective coatings.
An initial hearing regarding the condition of the property was scheduled for December 11, 2025; however, certified mail service to the listed property owners was unsuccessful. On December 12, 2025, at the owner’s request, the inspector met with the owner on-site and reviewed the property’s conditions firsthand. In accordance with statutory notice requirements, a public notice of the hearing was subsequently published in The Fayetteville Observer on December 14, 2025.
The hearing was held on December 30, 2025, at which time the property owner was not present. An order was issued on December 31, 2025, directing the owner to either repair the structure to bring it into full compliance with applicable codes or demolish the building within 60 days. The notice also outlined financial assistance opportunities available through the City’s Economic & Community Development Department, including programs designed to help offset the cost of substantial repairs or demolition.
As of this date, there is no record of the property owner enrolling in the City’s Blight Removal Program or any other assistance initiative. The structure remains condemned and has not been rehabilitated to meet minimum code requirements.
Within the past 24 months, there have been two reported emergency service calls associated with the property. The site has accumulated six documented code violations. There is currently a balance of $2,539.57 in City assessments; however, there are no delinquent property taxes on the property.
Under the City’s demolition evaluation matrix, the property has received a score of 65 points.
Issues/Analysis:
This substandard property contributes significantly to neighborhood blight and poses a risk to public safety. The condition of the structure is inconsistent with the City’s Strategic Operating Plan, specifically Goal 1, which prioritizes community safety and neighborhood quality.
Budget Impact:
The cost of demolitions will be determined through a competitive bidding process following adoption of the demolition ordinances. Additional costs associated with asbestos testing and abatement may also be required.
Options:
Adopt the ordinances and demolish the structures.
Abstain from any action and allow the structures to remain.
Defer any actions for a later date.
Recommended Action::Recommended Action
Staff recommends that Council adopt the ordinances authorizing demolition of these structures. Staff will continue to communicate with the property owner up to the scheduled demolition date, offering opportunities for voluntary compliance, self-demolition, or grant-supported abatement through the Community Development Department. If the property is brought into compliance prior to demolition, staff will return to Council with a rescission ordinance to remove the demolition order from the property record.
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Attachments:
Aerial Maps
Violation Photos
Proposed Ordinances
Scoring Matrixes
PowerPoint Presentation