Columbia City council to vote on demolition exception to two central city properties

The Columbia City Council is scheduled to vote Monday on approving the demolition of two properties before the administrative building permit delay ordinance is set to expire on March 31.

The two properties up for discussion at Monday’s meeting include 706 Fairview Ave., just off of the Business Loop, and 403 Lawrence Place in the East Campus area.

Both property owners voluntarily submitted applications for the demolition process in February to the Community Development Department.

The Fairview Avenue property owner tells ABC 17 News he has lived in the home, which he said was built in the 1930s, for the past 27 years. He said he plans to rebuild another house after the demolition.

According to a city council memo, the Lawrence Place property owner does not have plans to rebuild.

Council member Michael Trapp said the council has voted on demolition exceptions for several properties since the ordinance was amended Nov. 21, 2016.

The ordinance, introduced by Mayor Brian Treece last May, placed an administrative delay on building permits for multi-family developments within a one mile radius in the area of Elm, Providence, Stadium and College. It later included the demolition freeze.