Many properties on cleanup/demolition list
As crews finished demolition of an often discussed property in Columbia recently, the Columbia Board of Alderman was busy discussing many similar properties.
A home at 933 West Ave. that had been deemed dangerous after a portion of it had collapsed was torn down two weeks ago. Neighbors had complained that the home posed a danger to children walking to nearby Columbia Primary School or Jefferson Middle School. At a previous meeting, a potential buyer approached the Board about restoring the home, but when it was analyzed, the property was in too bad of shape to be redone, so it was demolished. All that remains is an empty lot at the corner of West Avenue and Westwood Court.
The Board discussed 10 properties and prices to clean up properties with Building Inspector Lonnie Stringer.
“I want you to know that 933 West Avenue is piled up on the ground and they are working to remove it as we speak,” he said.
Jerry Stubbs, who had purchased a property at 605 E. St., was on hand for a hearing as properties were discussed. The Board was slated to hold a hearing on demolition of the property.
“I plan on tearing it down,” he told the Board. “I bought it and we were going to renovate it, but, I’ve decided that it is in too bad of shape. I’m going to tear it down, but I work offshore and hope to tear it down when I’m home. How long can you give me to tear it down?”
Ward 4 Alderman Mike Smith asked Stubbs if he had a contractor lined up to do the demolition work.
“My boys and I were going to get in there and tear it down ourselves,” he said. “The house is really small; it’s not bigger than this room.”
City Attorney Lawrence Hahn said that if it took no action, it would effectively give Stubbs the time he needed.
“It would give you 30 days, and then we would have to send you another hearing letter, so it would give you 60 days,” he said.
The Board took no action so Stubbs could tear the house down.
The Board also learned that work had begun on a lot at the corner of Owens Street and Martin Luther King Drive and gave the owners 30 days to continue the process. Two properties at 1005 and 1108 Church St. were also discussed for cleanup and it was learned that the owners were taking care of the problems and no action was taken.
The Board also approved a motion to order the demolition of a property at 305 Richard St. in Ward 1 and scheduled a hearing for demolition of a property at 406 Browns Ave. in Ward 3 for February.
The Board also voted to send a letter concerning the condition of a carwash at 1387 Mississippi 13 North and sent a notice ordering a cleanup of the property. The Board also discussed demolition of a home at 723 D St., but learned that it may have been sold, which would restart the process. The Board will revisit the discussions after the purchase has been confirmed. The Board also sent a cleanup notice for a property located at 406 Bay Ave.
Stringer is working on guidelines for demolition and cleanup costs for the city and the Board will use the guidelines to determine costs billed to taxes for property owners for the various actions. The Board will continue to analyze each case.
In other business, the Board voted to remove a 2011 Dodge truck involved in an accident from the city inventory list and also a 2005 Ford F550 once used to pull the limb wagon that is no longer functioning.
The Board also received the monthly Expo Center and Duckworth Center reports and accepted the resignation of police officer Peggy Foster.
Pictured Above: Neighbors had been concerned about this property at 933 West Ave. that was falling in. | Photo by Mark Rogers
