Fort Worth Building Standards Commission Meeting Summary – May 18, 2026

The Fort Worth Building Standards Commission met on May 18, 2026, beginning at 9:32 AM and adjourning after the last case. The meeting addressed multiple residential and commercial code compliance cases, hearing testimony from city staff, property owners, and interested parties. The commission declared numerous structures substandard and hazardous, ordered repairs or demolitions, and assessed civil penalties for accumulated debris.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The commission unanimously (7-0) approved the minutes of the April BSC hearing.
• Evidentiary Packet: The evidentiary packet was accepted without objection (7-0).
• Withdrawn Cases: The following cases were withdrawn by motion (7-0): HS-2660 (4100 Millet Avenue), HS-2667 (2615 NW 25th Street), ACP-2656 (3211 Ellis Avenue), ACP-2658 (8136 Waterside Trail), ACP-2659 (1632 Sierra Meadow), ACP-2660 (3636 Bryant Avenue), ACP-2662 (4113 Avenue N), and ACP-2664 (1051 Savage Drive).

Public Comments & Testimony

• 2219 Ross Avenue: Ahmad Mustafa, brother of the owner (without power of attorney, speaking as an interested party), reported that the property was recently purchased and that work has begun. He requested 90 days to complete repairs; the commission granted 60 days.
• 2121 Miller Avenue: Gloria Lopez (daughter of the new owner) explained that the property was fraudulently transferred but is now back in her mother's name. She stated demolition is already planned and agreed to a 30-day compliance period.
• 5101 Nell Street: Michael Hilton (brother of the owner, with power of attorney) described a multi-property redevelopment plan and requested 90 days to demolish and rebuild. The commission granted 90 days.
• 1617 Clinton Avenue: John Shannon (owner) stated he intends to repair the structure but lacked a detailed plan and had not secured full financing. He requested 90 days; the commission ordered compliance in 30 days.
• 1604 Denver Avenue: Monica Martinez (owner) reported that she had already obtained a demolition permit and had dealt with squatters and utility issues. She accepted the 30-day deadline.
• 3201 East Lancaster Avenue (Eco Motel / Cowtown Hotel): Multiple interested parties testified in favor of demolition:
  • Gentry Cotton (Nuisance Abatement Officer, Fort Worth Police) testified that the owner has repeatedly promised improvements without follow-through and that the owner claims financial inability to comply with district court orders.
  • Cindy Bowling (President, Central Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association) read a statement from Daniel Hayes, concluding: "The property is simply at end of life… We recommend a bulldozer." She also recounted a neighborhood cleanup where a five-gallon bucket of needles and other drug paraphernalia was collected on the adjacent lot.
  • Carol Peters (President, West Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association) stated that the motel has been the subject of building standards proceedings for decades and that the owners are "unrepentant, unresponsive, and unfazed by the pain they cause."
  • Mike Phipps (area resident) testified that he has been familiar with the property since 1998 and that under the same family ownership, the motel went into "extreme decline." He noted that last year three bodies were removed from the property due to overdoses.
  • Shetal Patel (representing the owner) argued that many violations are cosmetic, that he has reduced violations from 370+ to under 200, and that he needs 120 days to complete repairs, as structural engineering reports are required for each building.
• 6301 Woodway Drive: Gentry Cotton confirmed that police have logged over 45 criminal offenses on the property in 2024–2025, including a stabbing and a homicide. The property is across from Southwest High School, and students have been observed trespassing and using narcotics on site.

Discussion Items

• 3201 East Lancaster Avenue – Continuance Request: The owner requested a continuance, citing a concurrent district court case. The city opposed, noting the district court case had been continued. The commission voted 7-0 to deny the continuance and proceed.
• 1020 East Bowie Street – Civil Penalty: The owner, a retired educator living on Social Security, explained that he had been hospitalized in an accident and has been unable to haul away debris. He requested 90 days to abate the nuisance. The commission granted 90 days and assessed a civil penalty of $4,400.
• 5521 Fletcher Avenue – Civil Penalty: Priscilla Downs (owner) explained that her husband (co-owner) broke his back and required surgery, and that they have three children and care for an incapacitated brother. She requested 90 days and asked for the fine to be reduced or waived. The commission granted 90 days and assessed a $4,400 penalty, with the possibility of reduction upon successful abatement.
• 3202 Prospect Avenue – Civil Penalty: Maria Hernandez (owner's wife) cited her husband's health issues (diabetes, dialysis) and requested 90 days to clean the property. The commission granted 90 days and assessed a $4,400 penalty.
• 3753 Waldorf Street – Amendment Request: Michael Sanders (heir) and Darion Bell (buyer) requested an additional 60 days to abate the nuisance, citing illegal dumping and health issues (Sanders reported losing his truck and being hospitalized). The city did not oppose. The commission granted an additional 60 days.
• 3749 Waldorf Street – Amendment Request: The same parties requested an additional 60 days for this adjoining empty lot. The city did not oppose. The commission granted an additional 60 days.
• 3019 Ellis Avenue – Civil Penalty: No owner appeared. The city reported no measurable progress since the nuisance abatement order was posted. The commission ordered abatement in 30 days and assessed a $4,400 civil penalty.
• 1301 East Maddox Avenue – Civil Penalty: No owner appeared. The city reported no measurable progress since the nuisance abatement order was posted. The commission ordered abatement in 30 days and assessed a $4,400 civil penalty.

Key Outcomes

• Substandard/Hazardous Declarations and Orders: The commission declared all structures listed in the following cases substandard and hazardous and ordered the owners to repair or demolish within specified timeframes:
  • 2219 Ross Avenue: 60 days (7-0 vote).
  • 2121 Miller Avenue: 30 days (7-0 vote).
  • 5101 Nell Street: 90 days (7-0 vote).
  • 1617 Clinton Avenue: 30 days (7-0 vote).
  • 1604 Denver Avenue: 30 days (7-0 vote).
  • 3201 East Lancaster Avenue (Eco Motel): 30 days (7-0 vote).
  • 6301 Woodway Drive (14 primary and 3 accessory structures): 30 days (7-0 vote).
  • 6201 Woodbine Drive: 30 days (6-0 vote, with one commissioner absent).
  • 504 NW 25th Street: 30 days (6-0 vote).
  • 3300 East Rosedale Street (accessory structure): 30 days (6-0 vote).
  • 3250 Grover Avenue: 30 days (6-0 vote).
• Civil Penalties Assessed:
  • 1020 East Bowie Street: $4,400 ($100/day for 44 days), with 90 days to abate.
  • 5521 Fletcher Avenue: $4,400 ($100/day for 44 days), with 90 days to abate.
  • 3202 Prospect Avenue: $4,400 ($100/day for 44 days), with 90 days to abate.
  • 3019 Ellis Avenue: $4,400 ($100/day for 44 days), with 30 days to abate.
  • 1301 East Maddox Avenue: $4,400 ($100/day for 44 days), with 30 days to abate.
• Amendment Requests Granted:
  • 3753 Waldorf Street: Additional 60 days to abate (6-0 vote).
  • 3749 Waldorf Street: Additional 60 days to abate (6-0 vote).
• Right to Appeal: All owners were informed of the right to appeal to Tarrant County District Court within 30 days of the mailing of the order and the right to request an amendment within the compliance period.