Two residences should remain on a list of properties being considered for condemnation, the Pine Bluff City Council’s Planning and Development Committee decided Tuesday morning.
One of the homes is located at 3019 West 15th Ave. and the other is at 1620 West Eighth Ave.
The West 15th Avenue property is reportedly being renovated by the National Building Blocks program, a tax-exempt organization that was represented at the committee meeting by Ben Coleman Jr. Coleman said the house won’t be sold “for a profit,” but rather “turned over to the poor.” Inspection and Zoning Department Chief Housing Inspector Mitzi Ruth disagreed, saying Coleman’s group does sell its properties, which Coleman said are obtained primarily “by donation.”
Housing Inspector George Barnes said he had discussed the status of and requirements on the house with Coleman’s father, Ben Coleman Sr., in January and there has been no additional dialogue on the property. He said the Colemans received an official letter from the city on March 31, outlining the situation. In response to questioning from the younger Coleman, Barnes said the city’s objective is to “remove blight in the community.”
The West Eighth residence, which is privately owned by an individual, was damaged internally by fire. A representative of the homeowner asked that the property be removed from the possible condemnation list while the owner awaits approximately $25,000 in insurance money to be used toward repairs. It was uncertain, however, when the insurance policy might pay.
Aldermen Charles Boyd and George Stepps supported Ruth’s recommendation that the properties should continue to be considered for condemnation, with the West Eighth Avenue property’s possible removal from the list contingent upon receipt of insurance funds.
In other business, the committee voted to recommend that the full City Council approves declaring the updated 2012 international building and property maintenance codes, and 2011 national electrical and 2010 state mechanical codes as city standards.