July 22, 2009
Brentwood's half-done homes in trouble
If passed, law would push property owners to finish what's started
By Bonnie Burch
THE TENNESSEAN
BRENTWOOD — For
those who have given up on a construction project, the city has new
tools in its arsenal to make sure you finish what you start.
At
their last meeting, city commissioners passed the first reading of an
ordinance that would allow the city to either demolish or force
completion of suspended or abandoned construction.
"This
is a last resort. We're going to use our best coaxing and codes
enforcement techniques before we get to this stage," said city attorney
Roger Horner.
Before
the passage of a state bill, the city could only move on buildings that
were formerly occupied, not on new construction. The legislation is a
pilot project available in Williamson and Sumner counties and in effect
for three years.
A
house that sat unfinished for nearly five years on Pelham Drive in the
Lenox Park subdivision was the catalyst for Brentwood to ask its state
representatives for help. Ground broke on this house in 2005.
City
Manager Mike Walker said banks typically finance the construction of
new homes. But the owner of this house paid for the beginning of
construction out-of-pocket, leading to a work stoppage when his
finances became strained.
Since
that time, the half-finished, single-family home has become an eyesore
for neighbors who worried that their children could get hurt playing in
the empty house. Many also were concerned that the abandoned
construction project could harm the home values in the rest of the
neighborhood, Horner said.
Under
the new legislation, construction is deemed "suspended" if there is no
"good faith effort" for 60 days. At that point, the city could board up
the building and remove safety hazards from the site. If there still is
no progress
10 days later, then the city could do the work.
A building is defined as abandoned if a construction project sits fallow for 180 days.
"Then
the board could treat it like any other unfit structure and could order
more drastic measures up to and including demolition. And again if the
owner fails to follow the board's orders, the city could step in and do
the work themselves," Horner said.
The cost for this would be recouped on the tax bill or a lien on the property.
The ordinance goes for a second reading at the July 27 city commission meeting starting at 7 p.m.
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