The Building and Standards Commission on Oct. 8 ordered demolition of the long‑vacant Tabernacle at 7501 Blessing Avenue, finding the fire‑damaged property dangerous and substandard and concluding the earlier repair order had not produced compliance.

City investigator Farrah Presley told commissioners the civic‑use property has had multiple fires and repeated trespassing incidents, and that no building permit had been obtained since the commission’s August 2024 repair order. Presley said photographs in the staff packet show severe fire damage, missing wall components and repeated removal of boards used to secure the buildings.

The commission’s action replaces the repair order the board issued on Aug. 28, 2024 (recorded in Travis County deed records) with a demolition order. The staff recommendation, adopted in full, affirms an accrued civil penalty of $50,571.43 assessed from the 2024 order and directs the owner to fence and secure the property within seven days, obtain all necessary permits and demolish the structures within 45 days of the mailed order. If the owner does not comply, the code official is authorized to fence, secure or demolish the structures and assess expenses as a lien against the property; interest on assessed expenses will be 10% per year from the assessment date.

Anthony Mays, leader of the Saint John Baptist Association, told the commission the property is “sacred ground” for a local association and that the group lacks funds to restore the 1958 building. Mays said the association would not oppose demolition if that step helped preserve ownership of the land and allow a longer‑term redevelopment plan led by a nonprofit. “Our main concern is to maintain ownership of the property for the generations of those ahead of us,” Mays said.

Commissioners asked whether the association objected to demolition; Mays said the association would not oppose demolition if it protected the group’s land ownership and made redevelopment feasible. The commission voted 7–0 to adopt staff’s findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommended order.

The commission’s jurisdiction covers property maintenance and safety standards; the chair reminded speakers that the board does not have authority to affect title. A mailed copy of the demolition order will be sent to the property representatives and the order takes effect per the timelines described above.

The city investigator and the property representatives were present during the hearing and the commission admitted staff exhibits, including photographs and the existing BSC order. The decision can be appealed to district court under the Texas Local Government Code within 30 days of the order mailing. The code official will proceed with enforcement steps if the owner does not meet the order’s requirements.