Unwitting Purchase Of Home Subject To Demolition Order Has Family Pleading With City For Extension Of Time To Correct Violations

In Beaumont, Texas, the Southeast Texas Record reports:

• Three Beaumont residents have filed a request for injunctive relief against the city of Beaumont, alleging they are in danger of losing their home because the city will not grant them an extension to perform repairs. Flor Escamilla, Flor Uribe and Fernando Uribe claim they purchased a property at 2280 Laurel in Beaumont from Bruce Brosnahan on May 6. However, when they bought the house they claim they didn't realize that the city of Beaumont had notified Brosnahan that the home would be condemned because of its substandard and dangerous state, according to the complaint filed Nov. 6 in Jefferson County District Court.

• When they did discover that the property was due to be demolished, the plaintiffs' sister and daughter appeared before Beaumont City Council to request an extension of time to repair the property, the suit states. Granting the extension, the Beaumont City Council allowed the plaintiffs until Nov. 12 to repair the property, the complaint says. Realizing that they probably could not finish the required fixes by Nov. 12, the plaintiffs requested an extension to finish the repairs. However, Beaumont City Council denied their second request because the previous owner had already been granted an extension, they claim.

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• The plaintiffs say they have already taken steps to repair the property and will continue to fix it up to Beaumont city codes if they are granted an extension. The plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order that immediately orders the defendant to stop any action of demolishing the property and to be prevented from taking any bids on demolition.

For the story, see Beaumont homeowners seek TRO to stop home demolition.