Lewisville council declares fire‑damaged home at 1115 Seneca Place substandard, orders demolition

The Lewisville City Council voted 6‑0 to declare the house at 1115 Seneca Place a substandard structure and to order it vacated, secured and demolished. Staff told the council the residence suffered a three‑alarm structural fire on April 12, 2023 and is unsafe for habitation.

City inspection staff presented photographs and a building assessment showing extensive charring of structural members, missing doors and siding, interior collapse and evidence the fire compromised the concrete slab and roof. Jeremy Booker, the city’s building official, said staff recommended a finding that the property is "dilapidated, substandard and unfit for human habitation" and asked the council to require demolition within 30 days, with an additional 30 days available to mortgagees or lienholders.

Gregory Sacknick, attorney for the mortgage servicer identified in public records as Seattle Bank, told council the lienholder does not dispute the need for demolition but said title currently sits in the estate of the prior owner. Sacknick said foreclosure proceedings are underway and a foreclosure sale is scheduled for Feb. 6; because the prior owners had a federally insured reverse mortgage, demolition bids must be approved by HUD before work can begin. "We do not dispute the fact that the structure needs to be demolished," Sacknick said, while asking for extra time to obtain HUD approvals.

Council members raised immediate safety concerns after staff pointed out a soccer ball visible in photos that indicates children have been entering the unsecured structure. Council members pressed staff to include urgent securing measures in the order; Booker confirmed that if the council’s order includes securing, staff will act immediately to secure the property.

Staff outlined the compliance process if demolition is ordered: the owner would have 30 days to comply; if the owner fails to act, mortgagees or lienholders would be given up to an additional 30 days. If neither the owner nor lienholder complies, staff said the city would contract for demolition (likely to slab), file the order with the city secretary and Denton County Clerk, mail notice to the owner and lienholders, publish the order in the city’s newspaper of record and place any resulting costs as a lien on the property. Staff estimated a city‑conducted demolition to the slab would cost roughly $20,000–$25,000, while materials provided by the lienholder referenced a bid in the vicinity of $49,000 pending HUD approval.

The council adopted the staff‑recommended findings and order: declare the structure a substandard structure, order it vacated and secured from unlawful entry, and order demolition within 30 days with up to 30 additional days for mortgagees or lienholders. The motion passed 6‑0. The council also closed the public hearing and moved to consult with legal counsel about timing and title issues before finalizing follow‑up steps.

Next steps: staff will file and publish the council order, notify the owner and lienholders, and take immediate steps to secure the property if the order requires it. The council’s order starts the statutory clock for owner and lienholder compliance; any further timeline adjustments will depend on the outcome of the foreclosure process and any required federal approvals for HUD‑insured mortgage obligations.