The Abilene Board of Building Standards on March 5 declared 4474 La Hacienda Drive a public nuisance and reissued a demolition order, giving the owner 30 days to demolish or appeal to district court.

The board's staff had recommended the declaration after property maintenance inspector Robert Marsh reported the house was unsecured, had unfinished electrical work, broken windows and an unsafe, unfinished pool. Marsh said an October 2024 demolition order had been issued previously but that the city later discovered a second lienholder had not received notice, prompting the board to reopen the case so all parties could have due process.

Tom Choate, representing the La Hacienda homeowners association, told the board the house has been a problem for nearly five years and urged the board to keep the demolition order in place. “I ask you to leave it where it is with an order of condemnation and demolition,” Choate said. He said the structure’s condition and repeated vandalism had a “profound negative effect on this community.”

Dr. Harry Hurd, president of the homeowners association, said the blighted property has depressed values and made it difficult for the HOA to obtain liability insurance. “This is having a real impact on our neighborhood,” Hurd said.

Marsh told the board the city had secured the pool perimeter and boarded windows and that staff had received an email from Double Backflip LLC describing a possible foreclosure and repair plan, but that the lender did not send a representative to the hearing. Marsh recommended the board find repair unreasonable and order demolition unless appealed.

Board member Dugger moved to adopt the staff recommendation; Allred seconded. The board voted unanimously to declare the property a public nuisance and to order demolition or an appeal within 30 days; the city may demolish if the order is not satisfied.

The action reissues a demolition order the board issued in October 2024 after staff determined there had been incomplete notification to a lienholder. The board did not modify the previous findings and directed that the owner either demolish or file an appeal in district court within 30 days.

The decision leaves in place the city’s option to perform demolition and bill the owner if the order is not complied with.