City schedules attorney walk‑through after contractor stops work on downtown downtown building veneer

City officials said they will press the owner of a downtown building with failing exterior veneer to finish repairs or face further action after a contractor halted work and inspectors deemed the job incomplete.

Staff reported that a contractor began removing unsafe veneer but "kinda disappeared on us," prompting the city’s building inspector, structural engineer and fire inspector to inspect the site. Staff said a walk‑through with the building owner, the owner’s attorney and the city attorney is scheduled to clarify the remaining steps and establish a timeline for remediation.

The city told commissioners it has already incurred expenses related to the site—fire department response, DPW barricades, lost parking revenue and road closures—and that the owner has been billed for these costs. "We have barricades. We're losing money on parking spots. Our roads closed. They're gonna pay for all that," a staff member said.

Staff said the immediate priority is public safety: temporary fencing and restricting sidewalk access are among the measures likely required while long‑term options (repair, sale, redevelopment or court action) are considered. If the owner fails to comply with remediation directives, staff said the next step could be legal action to compel repairs or obtain an order to remove the building.

Commissioners asked when the walk‑through would occur and were told it is expected in the coming weeks; staff said follow‑up will include a written timeline and next steps. The matter remains under active review and may proceed to court if the owner does not complete required remediation work.