San Antonio board orders demolitions for multiple dangerous structures, resets one case for 90 days

The San Antonio Building Standards Board on March 5 ordered the demolition of multiple structures found to be dangerous or dilapidated and imposed time and documentation conditions for one property it reset.

Across the hearing, staff recommended demolition for properties including 214 Brook Street; 267 North San Gabriel Avenue; 165 Stribling; 711 West Gerald Avenue (accessory structure); 256 Bridal Street; and others. Dangerous‑premises officers cited fire damage, missing structural members, open roof penetrations, rotted foundations, missing siding or floor assemblies, unsecured openings and evidence of vagrant or criminal activity as reasons for demolition determinations.

Why it matters: Board demolition orders lead to enforced abatement and potential city recovery of costs; reset orders give owners or representatives time to provide documentation that could preserve a structure.

Votes at a glance

- 214 Brook Street — Motion to demolish, add vacate order and cut electrical: passed 5–2 after roll call. Anne Weiner, Dora Solis, Robert Behnke, Fred Andes and Ryan Baldwin voted yes; Dwayne Nelson and Paul Hernandez voted no. Staff had documented an August 1, 2024 fire, missing windows, charred rafters and lack of permits. Owner representative James De La Garza said he has about $60,000 available for repairs but had not provided an itemized scope or required permits.

- 5246 Village Crest — Reset with conditions: board reset the case to the next available date, no later than 90 days, and required securing the primary structure (including a perimeter fence), plus submission of a power of attorney, written contractor scope and cost estimate, and the fire‑marshal and (if needed) engineer reports. Motion passed 6–1. An agent, Elizabeth Rogers, said owner Carrie Samang (incarcerated) had a contractor quote of about $39,060 and requested time to produce documents.

- 267 North San Gabriel Avenue — Motion to demolish and vacate: passed unanimously. Staff and SAPD described narcotics activity, a stripped stolen vehicle and multiple calls for service supporting the public‑safety finding.

- 165 Stribling; 711 West Gerald (accessory); 256 Bridal (Briggs Street) — Motions to demolish (each with 30‑day abatements and requirements to clear trash/debris) passed; several included vacate orders or security provisions and were unanimous.

What the board required from owners and agents

For reset or continuance cases the board repeatedly asked for three items: an engineer’s report or itemized contractor scope, proof of financial ability (bank statements/letters of credit), and a clear timeframe to complete work. Where a speaker claimed agency (acting for an incarcerated owner), the city attorney’s office and board asked for a written power of attorney before allowing the agent to formally bind owner commitments.

Key quotes

- Owner representative James De La Garza on 214 Brook Street: "I have $60,000 in there for to spend on this." He said title documents had recently been signed over to him and he planned to rebuild and move back.

- Agent Elizabeth Rogers on 5246 Village Crest: "We can probably get it totally and completely fixed for about $39,060," and asked the board for more time to pull permits and provide documentation.

Next steps: For demolition orders the city will issue abatement orders and may perform demolition if property owners do not comply within the ordered timeframes; the reset for 5246 Village Crest requires the owner’s agent to deliver the requested documents within 90 days or the board may proceed with the demolition order process.

The board concluded its meeting by addressing administrative items, including meeting rescheduling and staff realignment within Development Services.