In a message dated 98-02-13 10:36:56 EST, you write:

<< 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 the city I currently reside in, (Missouri City. Texas) one cannot transfer
ownership, or rent out any home until the city has inspected it and requested
repairs of noted violations are made. These can involve building code
violations, or cosmetic repairs to the outside (ie; painting). The local
utilities will not transfer services until ALL repairs are completed and re-
inspected by a city inspecter. No areas of this city can be considered
historic and I do not expect any to become such. This is just suburban
Houston, old areas here are not yet 30 years old. These tactics are to keep
our property values up, it has not worked as planned.

J.R.F.