Committee authorizes demolition of unsafe house at 919 North Seventh Street; low bid $43,181

The Rapid City Legal and Finance Committee on Oct. 30 authorized city staff to contract for demolition of an unsafe residential structure at 919 North Seventh Street after staff described severe structural damage, repeated vandalism and an explosion in the basement that left the home unstable.

Director Fisher told the committee the house’s foundation and walls are damaged, openings to the outside remain despite boarding and fencing, and the structure sits extremely close to the neighboring home — factors that raised the cost and complexity of safe demolition. Staff reported the low bid to complete the demolition was $43,181 and said notification requirements had been met.

Fisher outlined the abatement process: the city will bill the property owner for demolition costs, and if the owner does not pay, the finance office will place an assessment on the property (an abatement lien) so the city may recover costs when the property is sold.

The committee voted to authorize contracting for the demolition. The motion and second are recorded in the meeting minutes; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.