On Fri, 13 Feb 1998, Mary Delaney Krugman wrote:

> Here is an inquiry I am forwarding from a historic preservation commission
> Chair (in GA, I think).  Defining the criteria for degree of deterioration
> that would rise to a violation of "preventive maintenance" or "demolition by
> neglect" provisions is not an uncommon problem for HP commissions.  Can anyone
> provide some information or experience in various states?

There was a case in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but it happened before my time,
so I can't speak from direct experience.

As I understand it, the city entered the property (a vacant building in a
historic district) and put up tarps to stabilize the structure.  I think
eventually a new owner came along who restored it.  I'm not sure whether
any of this was seriously contested by the original owner.

Other Ann Arbor cases have involved the city threatening to take such
action to force owners to paint or repair roofs, etc.; generally the
threat has been sufficient.

In a similar situation about 20 years ago, the city of East Lansing,
Michigan took direct action to provide temporary winter heating to an
(occupied) apartment building whose landlord had refused to repair the
furnace.  Unfortunately this was before the city had a historic district
ordinance, and the structure (a large historic house converted to
apartments) was eventually demolished.

---
Lawrence Kestenbaum, [log in to unmask]