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Ordinance Directing the Housing Inspector to Vacate, Close and Repair or Demolish the Dwelling at 1115 South 5th Avenue as Unfit for Human Habitation Pursuant to Article V, Chapter 16 of the City Code and Directing That a Notice Be Placed Thereon Prohibiting Its Use or Occupancy
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LEGISLATIVE INTENT/PURPOSE:
WHEREAS, the City Minimum Housing Code (“MHC”), enacted pursuant to Section 160D-1203 of the North Carolina General Statues, authorizes the vacating, closing, and the repair or demolition of dwellings found unfit for human habitation; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Wilmington (“Council”) finds that the property described herein, located at 1115 South 5th Avenue and having owners identified as “Macedonia Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Inc.” (“Owners”), is unfit for human habitation under the MHC, and that all of the provisions of the MHC have been complied with as a condition of the adoption of this ordinance; and,
WHEREAS, said dwelling should be vacated, closed and repaired to meet the requirements of the MHC, or demolished, as directed by the Housing Inspector, and should be placarded by placing thereon a notice prohibiting use for human habitation; and
WHEREAS, the Owners have been given a reasonable opportunity to bring the dwelling up to the standards of the MHC, in accordance with N.C.G.S. Section 160D-1203(3), and pursuant to an order issued by the Hearing Officer on December 9, 2022, and the Owners have failed to comply with the order; and,
WHEREAS, N.C.G.S. Section 160A-193 provides cities with the authority to summarily remove, abate, or remedy everything in the city limits that is dangerous or prejudicial to the public health or public safety; and,
WHEREAS, Council has determined that the condition of the dwelling at 1115 South 5th Avenue constitutes a danger to the public safety and should be immediately repaired or removed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED:
Section 1. The Housing Inspector is hereby authorized and directed to place on the dwelling bearing the postal enumeration 1115 South 5th Avenue a placard containing the legend:
“This building is unfit for human habitation; the use or occupation of this building for human habitation is prohibited and unlawful.”
Section 2. The realty upon which said dwelling is situated is more particularly described as follows:
BEGINNING at the Southeastern intersection of Fifth and Meares Streets, running thence Southwardly along the Eastern line of Fifth Street three hundred (300) feet; thence Eastwardly, parallel with Meares Street, one hundred and fifty (150) feet; thence Northwardly parallel with Fifth Street, three hundred (300) feet, to the Southern line of Meares Street; thence Westwardly along the Southern line of Meares Street one hundred and fifty (150) feet to the beginning, being a part of Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Block 7, according to the Official Plan of the City of Wilmington.
Parcel ID: R05413-021-001-000
Section 3. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or cause to be removed said placard from any dwelling to which it is affixed. It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to occupy or to permit the occupancy of any dwelling therein declared to be unfit for human habitation. Occupation of a building so posted shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Section 4. The Owners and/or parties in interest of the dwelling herein above described are hereby ordered to vacate and close the subject dwelling found by the Housing Inspector to be unfit for human habitation from the date of adoption of this ordinance, and to repair or demolish the subject dwelling within 180 days from the date of adoption of this ordinance to meet the requirements of the MHC. At the conclusion of 180 days, this matter shall come back before Council, and if Council determines that significant progress has been made by Owners, Council shall grant, in its discretion, up to another 180 days to complete any necessary repairs or demolition.
Section 5. If the owners and/or parties in interest fail to have the dwelling vacated, the Housing Inspector is hereby authorized to commence summary ejectment proceedings pursuant to 160D-1203(8).
Section 6. If the owner and/or parties in interest shall fail or refuse to vacate, close, and repair or demolish said dwelling within the time allowed by Council, then the Housing Inspector is hereby authorized and directed to proceed to vacate, close and repair or demolish the above-described dwelling in accordance with this ordinance and order to the Owners thereof, dated December 9, 2022, pursuant to Section 16-232 of the MHC and N.C.G.S. Section 160D-1203. The cost of any such repairs, alterations, demolition, or improvements, and vacating and closing, by the Housing Inspector shall be a lien against the real property upon which the cost was incurred as provided in Section 16-232 of the MHC and N.C.G.S. Section 160D-1203(7).
Section 7. The Housing Inspector is further directed and authorized to take such other and further action and exercise such other powers with respect to said dwelling as may be necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the provisions of the MHC.
Section 8. The City Clerk is hereby directed to record a certified copy of this ordinance in the office of the New Hanover County Register of Deeds and see that it is properly indexed in the name of the property owner(s) in the grantor index.
Section 9. Any person violating the provisions of the ordinance shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 16-1 of the City Code. If the violation is continued, each day’s violation shall be a separate offense.
Section 10. This ordinance may be enforced by an appropriate equitable remedy, including but not limited to an injunction or order of abatement issued from any court of competent jurisdiction, pursuant to N.C.G.S. Section 160D-1208 or by receivership pursuant to N.C.G.S. Section 160D-1130.
Section 11. This ordinance may be enforced by any, all, or a combination of the remedies as authorized and prescribed above and by law.
Section 12. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 13. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed severable and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.
Section 14. The Owner of the property described herein are Macedonia Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Inc.
Section 15. The City Attorney is authorized to proceed with in rem foreclosure proceedings to collect taxes and liens owed for the property.
Section 16. This ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption.