Council upholds demolition findings for two long-neglected properties on South 18th

City staff presented records showing repeated inspections dating to 2023 for properties at 514 and 512 South 18th, documenting broken windows, unsecured structures, unpaid taxes at times, evidence of homeless persons entering the buildings and no substantial remediation or permit activity by the owner. The community development director and code officers detailed multiple notices and extensions; staff said the hearing officer found the structures to be public nuisances and recommended demolition due to health, life and safety risks.

During the appeal hearings, council members and the police/fire chiefs described safety hazards for first responders and neighbors, including collapsing roofs and unsecured entries used by people seeking shelter. Staff showed photographic evidence and a timeline of case activity and attempts to contact the owner; council discussed that the demolition finding followed a hearing before the hearing officer and that the property owner had appealed to council but did not appear.

Council adopted findings of fact and conclusions of law for the properties, concluding the structures are abandoned, unfit for human occupancy and a danger to public health and safety; council voted to accept the hearing officer’s conclusions and to proceed under the code’s enforcement path. The votes carried by roll call, with at least one recorded dissent on one property; council discussed options for liening demolition costs and next procedural steps.

What this means: the city’s action authorizes the city to move forward with remedies the code provides, including demolition and assessment of costs as a lien on the property if the owner does not act. Neighbors were urged to contact police for trespassing complaints and staff said the city would coordinate next steps in publishing orders and scheduling any necessary contractor work.

All descriptions here are based on the council meeting record and the hearing presentations.