Building rubble, broken glass: Why are blighted properties not getting cleaned up in OKC?

The former A&A Auto Parts & Salvage across from Scissortail Park is more than just an eyesore. Broken glass, rubble and the collapsed building pose a threat to anyone who might venture onto the property.

Seven months have passed since the scrapyard was destroyed by a three-alarm fire, so why is it still standing?

Public Eye tackled the difficult problem of dilapidated properties.

The problem: Blighted properties in Oklahoma City often go unaddressed

A&A Auto Parts & Salvage, the last surviving scrapyard along S Robinson Avenue, sent thick smoke over Scissortail Park when the property caught fire in November.

The business had closed a couple of weeks earlier due to the declining health of its owner. The family listed it for sale at $5.9 million — a price far higher than any other property sold along what was once known as Hubcap Alley.

The city of Oklahoma City can declare a property dilapidated, which can trigger a 30-day deadline for the property owner to make repairs or clean the site before the city acts.

From the archives: Hub Cap Alley era coming to an end

The first request to the Oklahoma City Council to declare the property dilapidated didn’t occur until April 25. The owners responded they hadn’t received notice of the vote, so action was delayed until May 9.

Representatives of the owners reported at the second meeting they had removed 700 salvaged cars and were weighing demolition bids. They were told by Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice that they would not be given another delay, but they had 30 days before the city would clear the site and charge the costs back to the owners.

“This needs to be taken care of soon as possible,” Nice said. “This is pretty hazardous. … We have to do something as soon as possible.”

Thirty days passed. And then 60 days passed. The city did not follow through on its warning that it would clear the site if the original deadline was not met. Fencing placed around the property in April in response to complaints was removed by late May.

Georgie Rasco, executive director of Neighborhood Alliance, said such delays are common.

“Burned-out buildings, vacant and abandoned buildings are a huge challenge,” Rascoe said. “It decreases property values, pride in your neighborhood and it depresses you every time you drive by.”

Another problem

The Hudson Avenue Baptist Church was an anchor for the adjoining Jefferson and Edgemere neighborhoods when it opened at 408 NW 30 in 1929. The building was sold to another church decades later, and it was vacant when it caught fire in July 2021.

The city council quickly declared it dilapidated, but city staff waited a year before Midwest Wrecking was hired for $76,000 to clear the property. In the meantime, the church stood with crumbling walls, broken glass and a couch in the chapel where the words “sex couch” has been written on the cushions.

What we found

Chad Davidson, the city’s chief code inspector, admits delays are common and often involve some city staff discretion.

The church was typical of properties where ownership was uncertain due to ongoing probate proceedings, such as when owners need to cut off utilities or remove asbestos.

The city also has a limited budget for clearing dilapidated properties. Davidson said his office is allowed to spend up to $50,000 per property, but must get city council approval for higher amounts. He said his department spends between $175,000 and $200,000 in a typical year.

He prefers to see properties cleaned up by their owners.

Problem around OKC? The Oklahoman's Public Eye can help

“If they have a good plan of action, and it’s reasonable, not 10 years from now, or they’re working on obtaining a loan, or funding to start the process, as long as they’re working toward compliance, we work with them to get them there,” Davidson said.

Rascoe said state and city statutes limit what can be done with slumlords who show no interest in maintaining their properties.

“We have a terrible problem with slumlords,” Rascoe said. “People buy up property and let things go to waste thinking they can let it sit for 15-18 years until they can sell it.”

Davidson cautions against demanding the city immediately act on every dilapidated property. By waiting, he said, historic structures including the Sieber Hotel, Sunshine Cleaners and Walcourt, were all given a chance to be sold to new owners who were able to bring the buildings back to life.

“We want to give people the opportunity to remedy a code violation, but we do have to take into consideration where we have to do something, like in the case of the church,” Davidson said.

What’s the fix?

Davidson said most dilapidated properties start as unsecured properties. Residents are urged to contact the city’s Action Center at 405-297-2535 as soon as they see a property that they believe might be a code violation.

“If you see a property that may be unsecured, neglected, or if it becomes non-occupied, and you see traffic out there, let the Action Center know,” Davidson said.

More: Public Eye investigates issues that impact you. This is what we've found so far

The owners of A&A told Public Eye they have hired a contractor to clear the debris across from Scissortail Park, and the contractor confirmed demolition should take place by mid-August.

Davidson said he understands neighbors may be less patient than city staff when it comes to waiting for a property like the church to be cleared. Residents are encouraged to contact their city council representative to argue why the city needs to act with fewer delays.

“They need to continue to call in,” Rascoe said. “But sometimes we need to understand it’s not legally feasible. Sometimes legal and insurance issues come into play. It's not just the city looking at a burned-down building and saying we’re going to come in and bulldoze it down.”

Got a problem? Public Eye can help. Email us at publiceye@oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Public Eye: OKC struggles to force landowners to clean up blight. Why?