A Columbia native who now lives in Clinton has until April to fix up a dilapidated home that has been under discussion for 12 years.
The action on Darren Burch’s property at 305 Richard St. comes as part of the city’s continued crackdown on blighted properties.
The Board of Aldermen voted to take action on several demolitions and discussed cleanup recently.
Burch, who was present for a hearing on Feb. 20 about demolishing or cleaning up his property, said he is making plans.
“I hadn’t been able to come down and do much work on it, but I had put a roof on it,” he said. “I put boards on it to keep people out of it.”
Ward 1 Alderman Wendell Hammond questioned the restoration efforts.
“That house has been under discussion for 12 years,” he said. “We’ve asked about it just about every year and you’ll come and see a little bit is being done. We’ve seen some freeloaders living up in it.”
“I boarded it up,” Burch said. “I put a brand new roof on it.”
Hammond asked about the work.
“I’ve bush hogged the property next to it because it was owned by the state of Mississippi, and I haven’t seen any progress for years,” he said.
Burch said he wants to work on the home and restore it.
“I plan on coming back here when I retire form my job,” he said. “I’m willing to do what I need to do. Give me the opportunity. Give me a time that I need to do something by. If I don’t get it done, then you can tear it down. I haven’t been coming to Board meetings for 12 years. I met with the mayor one time. I haven’t been called to a Board meeting. I got this letter to come to the meeting.”
Ward 3 Alderwoman Anna Evans asked about the timeframe Burch needed.
“I just ask for one more shot,” he said. “I’m cleaning it up. I want to come back to the community – I was raised here.”
The Board then voted to continue the hearing for 60 days until the April meeting on a unanimous 5-0 vote.
The Board in other property actions:
• Voted to demolish the old Handyman’s Garage at the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Owens Street.
• Learned that a home at 406 Browns Ave. was being demolished privately and no action was necessary.
• Discussed demolition of a home at 723 D St.
• Approved cleanup of a property at 401 Eagle Day Ave.
• Scheduled a hearing for March 20 for demolition of a home at 518 Bullis St.
• Scheduled March 20 hearing for cleanup of property at 1135 Church St. and 413 Bay Ave.
• Scheduled a March 20 hearing for the demolition of a home at 801 Willow Drive.
• Scheduled a March 20 hearing for demolition of 800 Dukes Ave.
Pictured Above: This home at 305 Richard St. has been under discussion for repairs for 12 years, city officials say. They set an April deadline. | Photo by Charlie Smith
