Historic board backs city enforcement of vacant-and-abandoned property at 420 Broadway after staff presentation

Dewey, the city enforcement official, gave the Historic District Board of Review a slideshow and status report on the citys vacant-and-abandoned structures ordinance, summarizing the programs early results and enforcement process.

Dewey said the citys inventory dropped from a starting universe of roughly 185 structures to 46 currently on the vacant-and-abandoned list; 14 property owners had voluntarily registered and 32 had been registered by enforcement. He said two property owners were formally challenging the citys determinations at the Board of Public Works and that the city has begun placing notices of lien where owners have not registered or abated the properties.

The presentation included before-and-after photos of properties that have complied and others that remain noncompliant. Board members questioned the challenge process and were told the Board of Public Works will hear evidence and either uphold or reverse the determination. One board member moved that the Historic District Board of Review formally express support for the city's enforcement at 420 Broadway and state that enforcement is necessary to preserve the structure; the board voted to approve that motion. A member characterized the failure to act as "demolition by neglect," and the motion was requested to be sent to the board hearing the challenges.

Board members praised the enforcement staffs progress and asked staff to continue reporting to the board as the program advances.