'Condemned.' Topeka's city government plans to demolish buildings on these 12 properties.
After being damaged by least three fires — one of them fatal to a young woman — a vacant, brick building near downtown Topeka is set to be torn down.
The former Faith Outreach Ministries building, constructed in 1956, is among 12 properties on a list Topeka's city government provided The Topeka Capital-Journal identifying buildings it plans to demolish.
The word "condemned" could be seen spelled out in red capital letters Monday on an announcement posted on that building's front exterior.
Former church building saw steep drop in valuation
John Roach, of Altadena, California, owns the one-story building at 625 S.W. Polk, which was constructed in 1956, according to the website of the Shawnee County Appraiser's office.
The building encompasses 11,025 square feet above ground and 3,125 square feet in its basement, that site said.
It said the property recently saw its appraisal value drop to $58,700 from $175,100.
A 29-year-old woman died in February 2021 of injuries suffered in the building as a result of what then-Topeka Fire Marshal Todd Harrison said appeared to be a "warming fire."
The blaze did an estimated $50,000 damage to the structure, Harrison said.
The cause remains undetermined for a blaze that then did an estimated $500 damage to the building in November 2022, said Rosie Nichols, public safety communications specialist for Topeka's city government.
An intentionally set blaze at the building the following month caused no additional dollar loss, she said.
"Over the course of these incidents the building has sustained damage that has led the appropriate city agencies to proceed with condemnation and demolition," Nichols said.
For the city to convince an administrative hearing officer to order a building razed, the city must demonstrate that the cost to repair it amounts to more than 30% of its value, at which point the law considers the property to be unsafe.
Fire damage is also present at most of the other 11 Topeka properties containing condemned buildings.
They are as follows:
537 S.W. Watson Ave.
The city plans to raze two long buildings formerly used as apartments at 537 S.W. Watson Ave., which were constructed in 1949.
Kansas City, Kan.-based MBM Holdings LLC owns the buildings, which have a total appraisal value of $66,380, according to the appraiser's office website.
An announcement posted on one of the buildings says a city code official determined they are so deteriorated, dilapidated or out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation or occupancy, and that it is unreasonable to repair them.
535 S.W. Watson Ave.
MBM Holding LLC also owns the nearby, 990-square-foot building the city plans to raze at 535 S.W. Watson Ave.
That structure was built in 1920 and has an appraisal value of $9,170, according to the county appraiser's office website.
516 S.W. Lincoln
Walter L. Bugg, of Topeka, owns the two-story house the city plans to tear down at 516 S.W. Lincoln.
That building was destroyed in January by a fire, for which city communications director Gretchen Spiker said the cause was undetermined and likely associated with trespassers.
The house was built in 1900, according to the appraiser's office website.
529 S.E. Kouns
Donnie J. Tschantz, of Topeka, owns the house the city plans to demolish at 529 S.E. Kouns, said the website of the appraiser's office.
Kouns runs north and south and is located about six blocks west of S.E. Rice Road.
The house was destroyed last May by a fire, for which the cause is undetermined and under investigation.
The house was built in 1937.
616 S.E. Leland
Rosa Elva Urista, of Topeka, owns the house the city plans to raze at 616 S.E. Leland, said the website of the appraiser's office.
Leland runs north and south and is located about three blocks west of S.E. California Avenue.
The house was vacant when it was significantly damaged last August by fire, for which the cause is undetermined and under investigation.
The house was built in 1900,
715 S.E. Locust
Victor Casas Cabrera, of Topeka, owns the house the city plans to demolish at 715 S.E. Locust, said the appraiser's office website.
Locust runs north and south and is located five blocks east of S.E. Branner.
The house was vacant last July when it was destroyed by fire, for which the cause is undetermined and under investigation.
The house was built in 1920,
735 S.W. Wayne Ave.
Nina and David A. Miller, of Cristobal, Panama, own the house the city plans to tear down at 735 S.W. Wayne Ave., according to the appraiser's office website.
Wayne runs north and south and is located one block west of S.W. MacVicar Avenue.
The house last May was significantly damaged by a fire, which city Fire Marshal Alan Stahl said was determined to have been intentionally set.
The appraisal value recently dropped to $54,000 from $90,600 for the house, which was built in 1940, the appraiser's office website said.
804 S.E 33rd
Gayle McBeth-Shirazi and Nader Shirazi, of Topeka, own the house at 804 S.E. 33rd, said the website of the appraiser's office.
The house last May was significantly damaged by fire, for which the cause is undetermined and under investigation.
The appraisal value recently dropped to $18,230 from $59,740 for the house, which was built in 1952, the appraiser's office website said.
921 N.W. Clay
Rodney Lutz, Amanda Lutz and Ron E. Lutz, all of Topeka, own the house the city plans to raze at 921 N.W. Clay, said the website of the appraiser's office.
The appraisal value is $12,870 for that house, which was built in 1920, that site said.
1323 N.W. Van Buren
Jeffrey Chapman of Topeka owns the property at 1323 N.W. Van Buren, the appraiser's office website said.
It said the appraisal value for that property — which includes a small, fire-damaged structure the appraiser's office website said was built in 2017 — recently dropped from $1,900 to $1,200.
1019 N.E. Jefferson
The list provided by the city identified 1019 N.E. Jefferson as being the site of a structure awaiting demolition.
Janet E. Hawks and Reuben Wagner Jr. own the property at that address, said the appraiser's office website.
It identified that property as being "vacant" and gave its appraisal value as $1,400.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: These 12 buildings are set to be torn down by Topeka's city government
