Commission gives 90 days for repairs at vacant Joe Sayers house, delays penalties

The Building and Standards Commission on Oct. 29 adopted a revised order for a vacant single‑family house at 5515 Joe Sayers Ave., giving the owner 90 days from the date the order is mailed to obtain permits and complete required repairs. The commission amended staff’s recommended timetable — changing the compliance period from 45 to 90 days — and said penalties would begin on day 91 if the owner does not comply.

Supervisor David Downing described multiple 311 complaints about the property, noting it is near McCallum High School and Lamar Middle School and has been the subject of nuisance trespassing and unsecured conditions. Code photos admitted in the hearing showed a vacant, boarded, and deteriorated structure that staff said qualifies as a public nuisance and an attractive nuisance.

After discussion, Vice Chair Francis moved to adopt staff findings of fact and conclusions of law but to extend the compliance timeline to 90 days; the motion passed on a 9–0 roll call. The order requires the owner, within the new 90‑day window, to obtain and finalize all necessary permits, correct all violations cited to the structure and accessory structures, and request inspections by Austin Development Services. If repairs are not complete after the extended period, the commission authorized assessing a civil penalty of $250 per week that will continue to accrue until the code official confirms compliance.

The commission admitted staff exhibits including complaint history, photographs, and the recommended order. The mailed order will include the amended dates and instructions for inspections; parties may appeal the commission’s decision to district court within 30 days.