Enterprise council orders six demolitions, continues hearings on others; CDBG and remediation options offered

The Enterprise City Council voted Oct. 7 to order demolition of six properties found to be public nuisances and continued public hearings on the remaining properties to its Dec. 2 meeting while offering owners the option to pursue remediation through the city's CDBG program.

City attorney Ben Goldman opened the public hearing on nuisance properties and described the due-process steps staff follows before seeking demolitions, saying that the city sends a 20-day courtesy notice, posts the property, mails certified notices and, where needed, runs a publication. "That first contact will never be from the attorney," Goldman said, describing the extra notice the city provides to give owners an opportunity to act.

The council adopted resolutions ordering demolition for 109 Beverly Drive (Resolution 10-07-25), 400 Aaron Street (Res. D), 406 North Watson Street (Res. H), 408 Grimes Street (Res. I), 525 Damascus Road (Res. L) and 712 South Main Street (Res. N). Council members voted to continue the public hearings on the remaining addresses listed on the agenda to the Dec. 2 meeting so staff and property owners could pursue remediation plans or finalize CDBG applications.

Thomas Hardy, the city's building official, told the council the properties proposed for demolition show extensive structural decay, roof failures, openings that permit animal intrusion and signs of long-term neglect. For several properties, owners or contractors have begun limited clean-up or partial repair work; staff said that cleanup does not preclude a demolition order if the structure remains unsafe or the owner does not complete an approved remediation plan.

Goldman and Hardy explained the conditions that will allow a remediation agreement instead of a demolition: a technically feasible plan to bring the building to code, a concrete schedule for completion and proof of funding. If the property owner meets those three elements, the city will formalize the remediation plan and the demolition order can be held in abeyance subject to the contract.

The council also approved an amendment to the earlier demolition order for 912 Rucker Boulevard to permit a remediation agreement negotiated with the new owners. Goldman said the owners presented a vetted scope, timeline and proof of funds; the amended resolution conditions the prior demolition order on successful completion of the remediation agreement.

David Ewing, CDBG program administrator, and staff said that where owners qualify, the city will use federal CDBG demolition funds to remove structures at no cost to the owner, then place a lien only if owners decline or do not complete the process. Several property owners told the council they intend to pursue available grant assistance.

During the hearing several owners spoke: Marcus Perry of 109 Beverly Drive said he had attempted repairs but had been unable to complete them after a contractor dispute and accepted the council's action; Gabriel Espada spoke for family-owned 406 Dixie Drive and described recent cleanups and contracted pest control; Isamuddin Ibrahim said he had funds now and intends to proceed on 712 South Main with roof and interior work if permitted to do so; and Brian Wheeler of 307 West Hildreth said he was exploring options to combine that parcel with an adjacent property.

Votes at a glance - Sale of property to Turner Orthodontics Properties LLC (Ordinance O 9-16-25 C): adopted during the meeting (consent/old-business vote). - Award of 2024 CDBG demolition project, Phase 1 to Lewis, Inc., $98,919: council accepted the program administrator's recommendation and approved the award. - Demolition resolutions adopted (six properties): council adopted the resolutions listed above (see Res. 10-07-25 and lettered attachments). - Continuances: council continued public hearings and related demolition resolutions for the remaining listed properties to Dec. 2 to allow remediation discussions and CDBG applications. - Amendment of demolition order for 912 Rucker Boulevard: council amended the earlier demolition order so the order is limited by and conditioned upon a remediation agreement signed by the property's new owners.

Why it matters: The action advances the council's stated Vision 2025 goal to reduce blight and nuisance properties and creates clear steps for owners to receive federal CDBG assistance or to execute remediation agreements instead of losing property outright.

What's next: Staff will follow up with owners who have applied for CDBG or offered remediation plans; the council will revisit the continued properties at its Dec. 2 meeting. Owners who do not complete agreed remediation will face demolition and potential assessment liens under resolutions authorized by the council.