Staff signals May 6 hearing after Graves Auto Supply building deemed unsafe

City staff updated the Board of Public Works and Safety on the status of the Graves Auto Supply building, saying the Graves family’s insurer had engaged a structural engineer and that the city has proceeded with its own due diligence.

Staff said the building was declared an unsafe structure under city ordinance and that the Graves family is awaiting the engineer’s report to submit to their insurer. The city has scheduled a hearing before the board of works for May 6 to consider whether to uphold the unsafe-building designation if the matter is not resolved.

"We had given Mr. Graves... the first step in this building is deemed to be an unsafe building," staff said. Officials noted the site’s proximity to the park and plans to keep the area blocked off while the issue is under review. Staff said they would continue to update the board and the community.