Joplin Building Board of Appeals Meeting – October 23, 2026

The Joplin, Missouri, Building Board of Appeals met on October 23, 2026, to review a lengthy docket of residential and commercial properties. The board approved the September minutes, excused one absent member, and acted on more than a dozen continued and new cases. Most properties were continued to the next meeting on December 11, 2026, several with warnings that demolition hearings would follow if required progress was not made. The board also held two formal dangerous-building hearings, ordering the building at 320 South Wall to be vacated and ordering demolition at 723 South Roosevelt.

Consent Calendar

• Board member Mr. Brown was excused due to a business obligation; Mr. Wickland arrived later in the meeting.
• The September board meeting minutes were approved by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• There was no separate public comment period; property owners, contractors, and an interpreter spoke during individual agenda items. No members of the public spoke at the two formal dangerous-building hearings.

Continued Business & New Property Reviews

• Item 3121 – 714 East Hill: Staff reported electrical and plumbing inspections are moving forward, but the property is not ready to release. Continued to December 11 for a progress report/demolition hearing.
• Item 3141 – 2402 South Alabama: Staff said the project is close to completion but failed final electrical because two additional breakers and lines are needed; temporary power is in place. Continued to December 11.
• Item 3142 – 723 South Roosevelt: No response from the owner and no visible progress; the item was tabled to the end of the meeting, when the board held a dangerous-building hearing (see below).
• Item 3149 – 929 South Roosevelt: Spire utility approval for the demolition permit was obtained, but water sign-off is still pending; a contractor is ready to pull the permit. Continued to December 11.
• Item 3152 – 614 South Moffat: Owner Sammy Abdallah said he finally lined up a plumber and would submit that information immediately. He said he has about $105,000 invested, plans to sell to a buyer, and estimated $15,000–$20,000 for interior work. Board members cautioned that the real cost could be far higher and stressed that a permit and visible work were required. Continued to December 11 on a 5–1 vote.
• Item 3154 – 1620 South Iowa: The property owner has hired demolition contractor Vortex/Jeff Anderson; one utility sign-off remains before demolition. Continued to December 11.
• Item 3158 – 210 North Oak: Owner David Williams said he decided to demolish rather than remodel, but had not yet hired a demolition contractor. Continued to December 11.
• Item 3162 – 12 South Patterson: The owner said he wanted to rehabilitate the property rather than demolish it, had received bids from eight contractors, and planned to make it a three-bedroom rental, with a full-rehab bid of $85,000. Board members expressed skepticism because he brought no written bids, the roof had not been tarped, and the proposed contractor had not appeared. The board voted to allow the existing demolition stay to expire, allowing demolition to proceed. The owner was told there is a 30-day appeal window and that he could still demolish it himself before the city’s process moves forward. Later in the meeting, the owner showed two written bids—$85,000 for the full scope of work and just over $16,000 for structural floor/foundation work—but the board did not revisit its decision.
• Item 3163 – 906 East Furnace: Staff said an inspection did not pass; footings and floor joists still need work, with a reinspection scheduled for November 9. The owner is living in the house, utilities are on, and a permit is active. Continued to December 11.
• Item 3164 – 915 East Second: Staff said the owner qualified for a vacant dangerous-building permit and secured the house, but had not yet paid for the permit. Board members expressed concern about the front porch and required it to be removed. Note: the transcript lists the address as 915 East Second, while motions refer to 915 West 2nd/916 East 2nd. Continued to December 11 with the porch-removal stipulation.
• Item 3165 – 3022 East Ninth: Owner Christian Cornelio explained that his father, who planned the renovation, was deported, and his brother’s DACA status is expired; they are waiting for DACA renewal to fund the work. No permit had been pulled and no contractor hired. The board continued the case to December 11 and warned that demolition could be ordered if there is no permit and measurable progress.
• Item 3166 – 222 South Jackson: The Spanish-speaking owner, through an interpreter, said he cleaned out fire debris, received a bid of roughly $45,000–$50,000, and was denied a bank loan due to credit. Staff noted a stop-work order and a pending permit review. Continued to December 11 and expected to be ready for a demolition hearing at that time.
• Item 3167 – 805 South Connor: Patrick Stone of Stone Company said he purchased the property nine days earlier and plans to gut-rehab the two-unit building, act as his own contractor, obtain insurance, secure the property, and then apply for the permit. Continued to December 11.
• Item 3168 – 2627 Grand: The owner, who said she has lived there 27 years and is on disability, described serious health problems and said insurance lapsed before a fire damaged the back addition and roof. Her pastor is trying to help, but she has no funding yet and faces long waits for assistance programs. The board continued the case to December 11 and asked for a clear plan or bids.
• Item 3169 – 320 South Wall: Staff reported that the owner’s representative had hired a Springfield company and was seeking an engineer to address the badly deteriorated fire escape. Board members discussed the condition, the risk to tenants and firefighters, and the possibility of a fire watch. The building was about 30% occupied, with roughly five to seven tenants. The board later held a formal hearing and ordered the building vacated.
• Item 3170 – 610 East Pool: Staff said the owners are incarcerated in Jasper County and the property, a former Habitat for Humanity house, burned in the back portion. Continued to December 11 and expected to be ready for a hearing.
• Item 3171 – 605 East Pool: Cable Gunlock, owner of GRC Construction, purchased the property seven days earlier and plans to demolish the existing house and build a new structure. He said he did not know it was on the board’s list. Continued to December 11.
• Item 3172 – 925 South Pitcher: Staff said the owner died in early August, the family does not want the property, and it is a demolition candidate; publication notice is needed. Continued to December 11.

Dangerous Building Hearings

• 320 South Wall – Order to Vacate: In a formal hearing, Assistant City Attorney Andrew Knobloch presented evidence from Chief Building Official Brian Wickland. Photos showed a deteriorated steel-and-concrete fire escape with collapsed steps and heavy rust. Title work identified Zon Joplin LLC as owner, and certified mail notices had been delivered to the registered agent. The board found the property dangerous under Joplin Code section 26-612(7) and (11) and ordered the building vacated.
• 723 South Roosevelt – Order of Demolition: Earlier in the meeting, the board set this property for a hearing and revoked the current building permit. Inspector Jeff Hadley testified about the posted structure, partial interior demolition, title work showing Christopher D. Finkley as owner, certified mail notices, and required newspaper publications in the Joplin Globe on April 4, 9, 16, and 23, 2026. The board found the property dangerous under section 26-612(3), (4), (13), (14), (16), and (18) and ordered demolition, including outbuildings.

Key Outcomes

• September minutes approved; Mr. Brown excused.
• Most continued items were placed on the December 11, 2026 agenda for progress reports and possible demolition hearings.
• 614 South Moffat was continued on a 5–1 vote.
• 12 South Patterson’s demolition stay was allowed to expire; the owner has 30 days to appeal and may still demolish it himself.
• 915 East Second was continued with a requirement that the front porch be removed.
• 320 South Wall was declared dangerous and ordered vacated.
• 723 South Roosevelt had its permit revoked and was ordered demolished.

Meeting adjourned.