Hollister officials are having trouble making contact with a building owner who vowed to raze a property destroyed by 2014 fire, so council members Monday agreed to spend $100,000 to do the work.
City council members Monday agreed to allocate $100,000 toward abatement of the 853 San Benito St. building destroyed in a March 2014 fire. They had the same consideration before them in October, but had wanted to give the owner time to clear the site.
In a report for Monday’s meeting, the city claims its recent attempts to reach building owner Tim Lantz have been unsuccessful.
Officials approved the expenditure in light of what the city in a staff report called “obstructive” behavior by the owner, Lantz. According to the city report on the matter, Lantz shortly after the fire admitted he had been living in the structure at the time of the blaze and he had denied requests by the city to inspect the site before the incident occurred.
Lantz previously responded by calling the city’s actions a “witch hunt.”
In recent months, the property and neighboring sidewalk have been blocked off from the public.
The city plans to move ahead with an abatement, including examinations for lead and asbestos, and then a demolition. Officials agreed to place a lien on the property for the cost amount and believe the figure could exceed the $100,000 amount.
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