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: September 23, 2024
RE:
Title
Uninhabitable Structures: Demolition Recommendations
423 Bevil Street District 2
2036 Rosehill Road District 2
3248 Chandler Street District 4
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2,4
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:
423 Bevil Street- PIN 0447-04-5755
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 January 31, 2023. The structure requires extensive repairs, including to the exterior steps, porch railings and columns, floor framing and flooring, ceiling and ceiling joists, walls, doors and door frames, electrical wiring, windowpanes, roofing materials, roof rafters and sheathing, and foundation walls and piers.
A notice of the hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on October 15, 2023. The hearing on the property’s condition was held on November 2, 2023, but the owner did not attend. Following the hearing, an order to repair or demolish the structure within 60 days was issued and sent to the owner on November 3, 2023. The notice included contact details for the City of Fayetteville Economic & Community Development Department and information on programs available to assist with repairs and/or demolition expenses.
As of now, there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program, no repairs have been made, and the structure remains undemolished. In the past 24 months, there have been six emergency calls to the property. Additionally, there are three code violation cases on record, with no City assessments or outstanding taxes. This residential property has a demolition score of 82 points on the matrix.
2036 Rosehill Road- PIN 0438-55-0947
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 September 25, 2023. The structure requires extensive repairs, including to the floor framing and flooring, ceiling and ceiling joists, Walls, doors and door frames, windowpanes, 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 November 5, 2023. The hearing on the property’s condition was held on November 20, 2023, but the owner did not attend. Following the hearing, an order to repair or demolish the structure within 60 days was issued and sent to the owner on November 29, 2023. The notice included contact details for the City of Fayetteville Economic & Community Development Department and information on programs available to assist with repairs and/or demolition expenses.
As of now, there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program, no repairs have been made, and the structure remains undemolished. In the past 24 months, there have been three emergency calls to the property. Additionally, there are three code violation cases on record, with $2,348.50 in City assessments and $6,305.99 in outstanding taxes. This residential property has a demolition score of 80 points on the matrix.
3248 Chandler Street- PIN 0428-03-1519
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 29, 2022. It requires extensive repairs, including to the exterior steps, porch framing and flooring, porch railings and columns, floor framing and flooring, ceiling and ceiling joists, walls, doors and door frames, electrical wiring, fixtures and devices, window screens and screen doors, windowpanes, frames and sashes, roofing material, flashing, trim and fascia, roof rafters and sheathing, and foundation walls and piers.
An initial hearing on the property was held on November 9, 2023, but the owner did not attend. Notice of this hearing was published in the Fayetteville Observer on December 10, 2023. A follow-up hearing took place on December 28, 2023, with the owner again absent. Following this, an order was issued on December 29, 2023, mandating the repair or demolition of the structure within 60 days. The notice included contact information for the City of Fayetteville Economic & Community Development Department and details about available programs to assist with repair or demolition costs.
To date, there has been no confirmation of enrollment in the Blight Removal Program, no repairs have been made, and the structure remains undemolished. In the past 24 months, there have been four emergency calls to the property. Additionally, there are two code violation cases on record, with no City assessments or outstanding taxes. This residential property has a demolition score of 80 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 recommends 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