HIGHLAND — Faced with condemnation notices, a developer promised to demolish an abandoned home that was significantly damaged in a four-alarm fire last year.
After hearing a plea from developer Gary Cooper, the Highland City Council voted Tuesday to give him an additional four months to demolish and clear debris from the 6,700-square-foot home at 10031 N. 6800 West.
"The problem is money. The economy is bad, and I'm in real estate," Cooper said. "I have no income. My income is to sell lots. … I just need more time and I need money. I agree it's an eyesore."
The home sits on a 31/2-acre site in a residential neighborhood, down the street from Freedom Elementary School. Neighbors and parents of students have been concerned about safety hazards, calling the city weekly with complaints.
Highland sent condemnation notices to the homeowner twice, once in September and again in March.
Cooper, who sold the house to Cami Stauffer and maintains the lot, filed an appeal with the city last month asking for an extension on the demolition deadline.
"We can not see the urgency in the demolition of the home," Stauffer and Cooper wrote in the appeal. Cooper added at the meeting that he was "shocked when I found out there was so much concern."
The council stressed that Cooper was contacted numerous times through letters, personal visits and phone calls.
"You got the notice in September, so you know the urgency we placed on it," Mayor Lynn Ritchie said. "Our urgency is our children in the city. … We don't want them to get hurt. It's a liability. We don't want to tear it down as a city. We want the house down, but we don't want to do it. We need to count on you that your word is good."
The City Council first discussed using taxpayer dollars to demolish the house in December. According to 15 bids, demolition would cost anywhere from $9,095 to $22,925.
Councilman Larry Mendenhall originally made a motion to give Cooper just 90 days to demolish the structure, saying "there's been sufficient opportunity for this to occur."
But Cooper said that wasn't possible. While he can demolish the house by July 1, he needs until Aug. 1 to get rid of debris. He plans to take down the house himself with help from his grandkids.
"I think we need to give every benefit to the owner of the property before we take police action or condemnation," said Councilman Tom Butler. "I can't see what a 30-day difference would make it a big deal to some."
Cooper is trying to amend zoning on the site from acre zoning to half-acre zoning for new housing. The issue currently is tabled with the Planning Commission.
Cooper also owns 150 acres around the house. Of that, 85 acres hasn't been developed.
The home on 6800 West was burned in a kitchen grease fire last April. Total damage was estimated at $400,000.
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