Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning and Development Services Department

 

TO:

Dave Corliss, City Manager    

 

THRU:

Scott McCullough , Director, Planning and Development Services Dept.

 

FROM:

Julie Wyatt, Code Enforcement Officer

 

Date:

November 5, 2008

 

RE:

617 W. 4th Street, unsafe structure

 

 

The City Commission adopted resolution No. 6801 on September 16, 2008, setting a public hearing date of November 11, 2008, for the discussion of the dilapidated house at 617 W. 4th Street.  The property is unsafe with one vacant structure (house) that is in a severely deteriorated state and posing a nuisance and unsafe condition for adjacent properties and residents.  

 

The owner of record is:        Norman Denton

                                      Attn: Jeanette Denton

                                      PO Box 3856 

                                      Lawrence, KS 66046-0856

 

The owner of record, Norman Denton, is deceased. Staff has been in contact with the two (2) living siblings, Jeanette Denton (Lawrence) and Norma Jantz (Topeka) for many years regarding the ongoing deterioration of the structure.  The attached chronology summarizes staff’s efforts to resolve this. The property is still in Norman Denton’s name. 

 

The property is located in the environs of the Pinckney II Historic District, National Register of Historic Places.  Staff found that the property is not a character defining element of the Pinckney II Historic District environs due to the severity of the deterioration, setting and location. The SHPO concurred with this determination. The Historic Resources Commission approved the demolition of the structure on September 18, 2008.

 

Due to the extent of deterioration of this structure and the attractive nuisance this structure creates, it is staff’s recommendation that a resolution be adopted ordering the property owner to repair or remove the structure within 30 days.  Should the owner fail to accomplish this, the city would have the authority to take necessary actions to remove the unsafe condition, by removing said structure. 

 

Attached are documents related to this property, including a chronology of staff contact with this property, Development Service’s Inspection Report, Lawrence Historic Resources Administrative Review/Staff Report, Historic Resources Commission minutes and pictures.   

 

Please let me know if you have questions concerning this.  Thank you.