City destroys house

Demolition began Friday on an Oriole Drive home declared a public

nuisance by the City Council at the Sept. 20 meeting.

The owner of the property at 925 Oriole Drive -- dubbed “the

mausoleum” by neighbors -- was the only holdout to agreements that

allow the city to enter private property and demolish and remove

structures damaged in the June 1 landslide.

Demolition and removal of debris is necessary so that emergency

repairs and temporary fixes -- known as winterization -- can move

forward.

“I thought I had an agreement with the property owner,” said

Community Recovery Coordinator Robert Burnham.

“It is essential to demolish it before the rains.”

Burnham’s request for a determination of a public nuisance was

added to the council agenda as an emergency action.

He said the need to consider the matter arose after the agenda was

posted. He said he was unable to obtain a commitment from the

property owner on a date and conditions for the demolition of the

structure and other improvements, such as a retaining wall.

City consulting geologist Hannes Richter supported Burnham’s

request.

If recent rains continue, they could intensify the potential for

further movement of the unstable soil on the property, as well as

movement of the structure itself, Burnham told the council.

That could damage adjoining structures, jeopardize the safety of

people working on the Bluebird Canyon drainage restoration and impair

access over Oriole Drive.

Ten homes had been demolished with two remaining -- including 925

Oriole -- when Burnham appealed to the council to declare the large

structure a nuisance.

“The city funds the demolition if the property owner signed the

agreement; otherwise the city fronts the money and puts a lien on the

property,” Burnham said.

The owner of the property, listed as 925 Oriole Drive LLC, was

given until Sept. 22 to appeal.