By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost
Salisbury City Council approved the demolition of a rundown house at 420 E. Cemetery St. Tuesday.
Council voted 5-0 for the demolition. The house was first cited for being in violation of the minimum housing code in March 2007, and no improvements were made since.
Code Services Division Manager Chris Branham said the house went through the normal process required before a demolition could be approved: an investigation, notices, public hearing, findings of fact and the setting of a compliance date.
Owner Pamela Leblanc of Granite Quarry had received notices by certified mail, and the May 8 compliance date passed without her taking any action to bring the house up to minimum standards.
The city’s cost of demolishing the house and cleaning up the site will be placed as a lien on the property. The abandoned house showed evidence of having been shelter to animals and vagrants, Branham said.
Councilman William “Pete” Kennedy said the neighborhood has two or three other houses in deteriorating condition, including one next door.
Branham said his office already has started the process of trying to have the owners address those properties.