and has had a successful business in Minneapolis. We urge Council to not order
demolition and have us work with Moermond on a short leash. There have been 6
amendments made to the purchase agreement, which shows the commitment of the
buyer and the seller to this property.
Jalali: Do you or anyone else in attendance have additional comments?
Radio: Brokers for the buyer and seller are here if you have questions, but they don’t
need to speak.
Jalali: So, your ask is to not order demolition and give more time to work with the
Hearing Officer?
Radio: Correct.
Councilmember Noecker moved to close the public hearing. Approved 5-0.
Noecker: I’m not sure an out of state corporation cares about the needs of this
community. This has been a blight on the neighborhood since 2022, and situations
like this only attract further vacancies. I hear about it more than any other property in
my ward. After 2 years we don’t have meaningful progress. I am prepared to proceed
with the order to raze or remove the structure. I could be talked down if a nuisance
abatement plan is agreed to and progress being made. I hear progress being talked
about but don’t see it. I am open to recommendations.
Moermond: Council came to similar juncture with West 7th Street Burger King. It was
demolished eventually, as the purchaser did not want the building. There were lots of
nuisances in the meantime, however. Council implemented a nuisance abatement plan
to mitigate the issue of things happening there and buy time. It could also include
conditions under which the Council could grant time for rehabilitation, such as a
closing on the building, a new code compliance inspection report, a scope of work
plan, and evidence of financing. These conditions are not met yet. I’m not sure how
quickly that can all be brought together. Estimates for rehabilitation range from
$150,000 to $250,000, since wiring has been removed. I talked with the City building
official and the cost of just lighting the space to prevent nuisances was estimated to
be under $10,000 and be about a 6-week effort. Fencing would be about a 30-day
endeavor. If you want to give time for an abatement plan to be created, what you could
do is refer to Legislative Hearing in a month. We could then review it and give a report
back to you the following week on the plan’s status. Removal of the building would be
a couple months away anyway, given the long process of removal.
Noecker: You’re asking to send it to Legislative Hearing for creation of the nuisance
abatement plan?
Moermond: I’m asking for you to define the nuisance abatement plan here in Council
today. We could then check on if the plan was executed a month or 45 days from now
in Legislative Hearing.
Noecker: What about progress towards rehabilitation?
Moermond: Council could say that if the abatement plan is executed, you will give them
a certain number of days to come with a rehabilitation package with financing, work
plans, and other needed items.
Noecker: I’m comfortable with that, having it come back to us in 5 weeks.
Jalali: I support that direction. I would have liked to have the buyer here though.