Deterring demolition

DECATUR It can start with something as simple as chipped paint, some fallen siding.

Moisture invades the weak spots, bringing with it the scourge of ants and termites. The roof begins to rot. The project becomes too overwhelming and expensive for the property owner, who may have already abandoned the house.

This is how some properties wind up on the city's demolition list, which currently numbers 137 properties.

The demolitions pose several problems. They're expensive, with the city calculating average demolition cost at $16,278. Vacant, dilapidated structures hurt neighborhoods and attract crime, while empty lots can lead to problems with weeds and illegal dumping. And they lower the community's property values, which is bad for every government body that depends on property taxes and every taxpayer who might have to pay higher rates as a result.

Catching those problems before they fester is part of the mission of the city's Neighborhood Inspections Division, which has undergone significant changes in the past year.

My argument was, unless it's a fire, explosion or implosion, every demo (demolition) case should have started out as a housing case, said Wendy Morthland, the city's corporation counsel. We should have caught that as early as possible to try and prevent it from being a demo case, because it's now costing us so much for demos. So, how do we back that train all the way up?

Morthland took charge of the division in June, when the Decatur City Council informally approved its move under the city's legal department. Since then, she said the department meets weekly to brainstorm issues related to code enforcement.

Several council members expressed concerns about the move because the legal department also prosecutes violations through the city's administrative court. At the time, former City Manager Ryan McCrady said he would report back on how it was working after six months. The council is slated for a study session to review the administrative court and hear residents' concerns in the coming weeks.

Neighborhood Inspections administrator Susan Kretsinger said the move has helped her and the four neighborhood standards officers feel less isolated. The division previously operated as part of development services, which also includes building inspections and neighborhood outreach.

It's the fact that (the inspectors) feel they have valuable input now, and that's really increased their productivity and their willingness to go the extra step, she said. We were like an island.

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Deterring demolition