4.511 Public safety hazards and emergency securing measures

  1. Emergency securing of property. The code compliance division may perform emergency measures in accordance with city codes to secure any structure designated or pending designation in accordance with this article which constitutes a public safety hazard. Such work shall be performed in such manner as to minimize damage to the structure's historical and architectural elements. A certificate of appropriateness is not required. The superintendent of the code compliance division shall give notice of such emergency securing measures to the historic preservation officer.
  2.  Notice of demolition by city. The City of Fort Worth shall not allow demolition, demolish or order to be demolished, in whole or in part, property designated or pending designation as highly significant endangered, historic and cultural landmark or demolition delay or located in an area designated or pending designation as an historic and cultural landmarks district as a public safety hazard, except in compliance with this paragraph. The building official or the superintendent of the code compliance division shall notify the historic preservation officer of the intent to demolish such structure. The Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission and the historic preservation officer shall be given an opportunity to discuss with city officials and the owner the feasibility of taking emergency measures to secure or stabilize the structure or property and to delay the demolition so that other alternatives may be considered. After any emergency measures are taken, the historic preservation officer shall meet with city officials to review the condition of the structure or property and any plans for rehabilitation. If, after ten days from the date of the notification to the historic preservation officer, the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission finds that no feasible plan for further protection of the structure or property has been developed, a certificate of appropriateness shall be issued by the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission for demolition of the structure or property. When appropriate, the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission may make a recommendation to the city council or other entities or persons about the feasibility of rehabilitation based on a report from the historic preservation officer. Demolition shall be the alternative of last resort and shall occur only if there is no economically feasible way to rehabilitate the structure or property.
  3. Salvage plan. In connection with any certificate of appropriateness for demolition, relocation or other work on a structure or property designated or pending designation as highly significant endangered or historic and cultural landmark or located in an area designated or pending designation as an historic and cultural landmarks district, the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission may prepare and submit a salvage plan to the owner. Such plan may suggest salvage and preservation for reuse in restoration elsewhere, specified classes of building materials, architectural details, ornaments, fixtures and the like. The Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission may require such owner to comply with the salvage plan as a condition for issuance of a certificate of appropriateness. Compliance with a salvage plan may not be imposed as a condition for issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for demolition of property designated demolition delay; however, the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission may reduce the maximum 180 day delay period in consideration of compliance by the owner with a salvage plan.