Demolition & Abatement

The Demolition and Abatement program is a tool to assist the community and neighborhoods, by removing buildings that are dangerous, blighted, and structurally unsound. These buildings have been abandoned and/or not economically feasible to repair. In many instances, property owners cannot be found, or they do not have the financial means to pay for the demolition.

The program is currently funded by two sources: General Funds & Fire Insurance Proceeds.

The Fire Insurance Proceeds Fund is established by Kansas State Statute(PDF, 48KB) and City Ordinance(PDF, 55KB). It is a funding tool to ensure that insured structures significantly damaged by fire, explosion, and windstorm are repaired accordingly or demolished to eliminate the nuisance and blight.

Demolition Process

The cause of dangerous buildings varies from neglect and abandonment by the property owner, fire, or catastrophic damage from storms or vehicles. All dangerous buildings are evaluated by the inspector to determine the amount of damaged and must meet demolition criteria.

The entire demolition process(PDF, 86KB) can take three months to seven years depending on available funding.

Demolition projects are awarded to licensed demolition contractors(PDF, 38KB) that are contracted with the city through a competitive bid process to ensure the lowest cost. If you are interested in becoming a city demolition contractor, please review the requirements(PDF, 28KB).

A lien will be placed on the parcel of land for the total cost of the demolition. The total cost includes the removal of the structure and asbestos abatement, abandoning the sewer and water, possible change orders, and administrative costs. This cost will appear on the annual tax statement.

Priorities

Due to limited funding demolitions are prioritized by the severity of damage to the structure.

• Emergencies-eminent danger of collapsing
• 10-Day Notice-severely damaged by fire and/or structurally compromised
• Normal Process
• Close proximity to schools, parks, major streets
• Redevelopment
• UG/Land Bank owned
• Police Requests
• Neighborhood Needs