Snyder’s Building Standards Commission ordered the demolition of three buildings on Monday.
In each case, the property owner was ordered to demolish the nuisance structure within 30 days. After that, the city will demolish the building and place a lien on the property to recover its costs.
Buildings at 1800 28th Street, 3805 Muriel Drive and 3002 Ave. H were each ordered to be torn down on 5-1 votes, with commission member Vernon Clay voting against each order.
Before the final vote, Clay spoke up.
“All the things we’re doing are legal, but we’re committing manpower and equipment, which is money, to tearing things down,” he said. “When are we going to be as vigilant at fixing things up, like the roads? If we’re so anxious to tear down, we ought to be equally anxious to build things up. We are not putting our efforts equally.”
He said some of the roads need nothing more than a layer of caliche and grading to be an improvement.
The 28th Street building is owned by Jose Luis and Martina Ramirez and had come before the commission before. Ramirez was told to secure the building and make it structurally sound according to city code, but repairs were done incorrectly, including using landscaping timbers to support the foundation and fixing the roof with non-allowable materials.
“Some things were done, but were not done to code,” said Code Enforcement Officer Dan Hicks. “I think the demolition of the building is what we need to do.”
Clay said a group was trying to buy the building and Ramirez said he had someone interested in buying it, but no agreements on terms of a sale had been reached.
“Really, I want to fix it. I want to keep my house” Ramirez said.
But he acknowledged that might not be possible.
“I would sell it. I have a friend who might buy it,” he said.
As part of its demolition order, the commission voted to stop demolition proceedings if Ramirez was able to find a buyer who would agree to demolish the building.
The building on Muriel Drive, owned by Otis J. Archie of Cambria, Calif., has hazardous wiring, structural hazards, faulty construction and has not been maintained, according to a report submitted by Hicks.
He said that Archie was originally contacted in 2012 about tearing down the building, and he agreed to do so at the time, but nothing has happened.
Hicks said that when he spoke to Archie about Monday’s meeting, the owner said he would arrange for it to be demolished.
The building on Ave. H, owned by Michael Garza of Little Elm, has hazardous wiring, has not been maintained, is open to the weather and unsecured, according to a report filed by Hicks.
Hicks said there has not been water service at the house since at least 2000 and since 2006, property taxes have only been paid once. A balance of $449 in past due taxes is owed.
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