Board orders repair plan for 401 Delaware Road after new owner engagement

The Abilene Board of Building Standards voted Aug. 5 to order the owner of 401 Delaware Road to provide a plan of action within 30 days and to complete roughing inspections within 60 days if the plan is submitted. The staff recommendation was approved unanimously on roll call.

Inspector Ricky Wright told the board that utilities had been inactive since Sept. 18, 2001, and that staff discovered a new deed recorded July 22, 2026; he said the new owner had been in contact with staff and planned rehabilitation or adaptive reuse. "So our staff recommendation at this time is to order the owner to repair 30 days to provide a plan of action including a time frame for repair and cost estimates and obtain all permits," Wright said. The board recorded a unanimous yes vote from Tankersley, McNeil, Turner, Duncan and McBrayer.

During the public hearing, Janet Arduino, a neighbor at 409 Delaware Road, urged the board and owners to pursue housing rather than commercial use and asked staff to pass on contact information because she had been unable to reach the owner. Arduino said the area has seen significant residential development and that a commercial use would be out of character. The board closed the public hearing and approved the repair timeline the staff recommended.