Levelland council orders demolition timelines for six substandard properties

Levelland — The City Council voted to issue abatement and demolition orders for multiple properties the city has declared substandard, giving one owner 90 days to complete demolition and the other property owners 60 days to comply.

City code enforcement opened a public hearing and read the city housing standards that define a substandard dwelling, citing conditions that render structures dilapidated, unfit for human habitation, or hazardous to public health and safety. Inspectors presented evidence and photos for each address and said certified notices had been provided to owners; many notices were returned unclaimed.

Inspector Eli (city staff) said title and tax records show Elijio and Indeliza Bazan own 1807 Avenue I and that the owner has indicated he wants to demolish the structure. “He does want to demolish the structure,” Eli said, adding the owner already removed a garage and asked for additional time to finish the work. Council approved a motion directing staff to develop benchmarked timelines for remediation and gave the city authority to abate 1807 Avenue I if the owner fails to comply within 90 days.

For four other properties — including 109 Oak Street, 211 Oak Street, 1012 Eleventh Street (three boarded duplexes), 1604 Houston, and 207 Avenue F — council approved orders giving owners 60 days to demolish or bring structures into compliance, with the city reserving the right to step in and remove hazards and place liens if necessary. The council motion to issue the remaining orders passed on a voice vote.

The council and staff discussed including measurable benchmarks and interim progress reports in the orders so enforcement could track whether owners were meeting milestones. Staff said the orders will be drafted, signed by the mayor, and mailed to owners; if owners do not complete the required work within the stated deadlines the city may contract to abate the nuisance and charge the owners.

The action implements a recommendation from the Housing Standards Commission and relies on the city’s property-maintenance and housing-standards code sections cited during the hearing. Council members said the steps are aimed at protecting neighborhoods and reducing public-safety risks from unsecured or dilapidated buildings.

The council’s orders are administrative enforcement actions; no criminal penalties were discussed. The council did not identify a separate funding source in the motion; staff noted the city may provide roll-off dumpsters to assist owners who wish to remove debris but also emphasized that many properties carry back taxes and liens that complicate resale or rehabilitation.