Neglected and derelict buildings on Denver City Council radar

This building near Paco Sanchez Park is on the city's Neglected and Derelict Building listPhoto byCity and County of Denver

The Budget and Policy Committee of the Denver City Council heard a presentation Monday from council aides in three districts about neglected and derelict buildings.

Take a building that abuts Paco Sanchez Park. “Denver Police Department has investigated the site for criminal activity, human trafficking, illegal narcotics distribution, encampments, and unauthorized occupancy of property,” according to a presentation slide. There were 24 calls for Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department and Denver Health since 2018 involving 99 safety personnel. There were 33 311 calls, according to the presentation.

Despite this, the building did not make the Neglected and Derelict Building list, or NDBA list, until May. The oversight shows how departments had been working in silos regarding complaints about the structure, council staff said.

Tougher fines, compassion for disadvantaged

A working group consisting of council members Paul Kashmann, Jamie Torres and Amanda Sawyer already has made recommendations about the rundown buildings. Members of the committee said they want to impose tough fines on property owners with deteriorating properties, but not at the expense of someone already mired in poverty. “Residential properties may be listed on NADB list due to equity barriers. Examples include but are not limited to prohibitive costs to maintain or demolish a property, mental or physical health challenges, people reentering society after incarceration, or the death of a property owner,” according to a presentation slide.

This home landed on the Neglected and Derelict Building list due to its owner being incarcerated. The owner submitted a remediation plan.Photo byCity and County of Denver

“Leave equity at the forefront,” Council President Amanda Sandoval said. She spoke of a home in her district known as the Bosler House. It had become so derelict it no longer had a roof, she said. A fire also occurred. It sat without a roof for eight years from 2008 to 2016 but then it went into receivership. The city does not do many receiverships due to budgetary constraints. There only is a budget or 10 show-cause hearings per year, and a shortage of staff makes even that number difficult, council staff said.

But today, the Bolder house is one of the city’s architectural gems, Sandoval said, complete with a restored tower.

Council member Flor Alvidrez said she knocked on many doors during her election campaign of homes that might be considered sub-standard. She said the city should offer those people help bringing their home into compliance, not face fines.

Demolishing a building cost about $800,000

It costs about $800,000 to demolish a building, according to the council aides. So, it would take at least $800,000 in fines to motivate a property owner to tear down a derelict building, which council member Amanda Sawyer said would not be reasonable. But, she added, “We have to have more teeth. Staff needs to be supported better whether it is in numbers or resources.” But she said the city must work not to displace people who cannot afford to properly maintain their properties or even cut their grass. “We have snow angels maybe we could have mow angels.”

There already is an ordinance regarding neglected and derelict buildings but the city does not have enough staff to enforce it, according to the council aides. Increases in fines could finance more positions, the aides said. The ordinance has not been updated since 2012. “Neglected and derelict buildings reduce the availability of legitimate residential and commercial spaces, exacerbating the shortage of affordable housing, business locations, placemaking, community building and other neighborhood amenities,” according to the presentation.

What is a derelict or neglected building?

This church in council district 5 landed on the city's Neglected and Derelict Buildings list. It had a cell phone tower in the steeple.Photo byCity and County of Denver

A building can land on the NADB list if it is:

· Unsafe.

· Unoccupied for at least three consecutive months, wholly or partially boarded up, and does not show signs of imminent construction activity. For example, council member Flynn said there is a NADB property in his district, but a “fence of death” has been put up around it showing it is awaiting demolition. That keeps the building off the list.

· Has become a neighborhood nuisance. A nuisance house can be structurally unsound, a fire hazard, unsanitary or a risk to human life.

Historic properties not properly maintained also will land on the list, according to the presentation.