San Antonio Building Standards Board Meeting – May 7, 2026
San Antonio Building Standards Board Meeting – May 7, 2026
The San Antonio Building Standards Board met on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 9:05 a.m. under Chair Dwayne Nelson. The board heard three dangerous-building cases (resets from February 5, 2026), received a staff report on emergency demolitions, and welcomed new members. The meeting recessed from 10:38 a.m. to 10:47 a.m. and adjourned at 11:07 a.m.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of April 2, 2026: The board approved the minutes as drafted by a unanimous vote (motion by Robert Benke, second by Fred Andes).
Staff Report
- Emergency Demolitions (read into the record):
- 102 Sullivan Drive (main structure) – demolished April 1, 2026, due to fire on March 26, 2026. No further board action required.
- (Address unclear from transcript – likely a second property) – demolished April 9, 2026, due to fire on March 24, 2026. No further board action required.
- 510 Nolan Street (main structure) – demolished April 23, 2026, due to fire on April 17, 2026. No further board action required.
- Removals from Agenda: Agenda items #5 (144 Dean Street) and #7 (DP case 131 Spats) were pulled to be rescheduled. Attorney Sabita Rye informed the board she may need to recess if her backup does not arrive due to a scheduling conflict with city council.
- Administrative Updates: Judy Kroom announced that Dr. Fazal Hussein (observing this meeting) fills the veteran category on Panel A, and Jamie Little was appointed to the BSB on April 30, 2026, joining Panel B. The BSB now has full membership. The full board meeting is scheduled for May 28, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
Discussion Items
Case 1: 1447/1449 Arangus Avenue (reset from February 5, 2026)
- Presentation: Dangerous Premise Officer Ryan Garza recommended demolition for a single-story residential structure damaged by fire. Owner Don Juan Gilberto was not present. Notices were properly issued; Office of Historic Preservation confirmed no historic designation. The structure had extensive fire, smoke, and water damage, charred members, roof holes, and was deemed a walking hazard. SAPD Officer Robert Dupe testified to multiple calls for service, drug activity, and dangerous interior conditions.
- Public Testimony: None (owner absent).
- Outcome: The board found the property a public nuisance, not feasible to repair, in violation of City Code Chapter 6, Article 8, Section 6-156, subsections 1,2,5,7,8,11,12,15,17,18. Motion by Fred Andes, seconded by Robert Benke, to order demolition within 30 days, vacate, and secure the property. Vote: 4-0-1 (Dr. Hussein abstained).
Case 2: 206 Cato Street (reset from February 5, 2026)
- Presentation: Dangerous Premise Officer Stephanie Sanchez recommended repair for the main structure and demolition for accessory structures. Owner Jaime Flores was present. The main structure and two accessory structures (a garage and a shed/garage) were in disrepair. The owner provided a scope of work and financial letter. A conference with the owner had been held. The office of Historic Preservation confirmed no historic designation.
- Public Testimony: Annette (representing the owner and financing company) stated they invested $60,000 with potential up to $80,000 for full renovation, requested 4–6 months to complete repairs. She acknowledged missing engineer letter and itemized costs. The board discussed feasibility of repair for all structures.
- Outcome: After debate, the board adopted a revised motion (by Robert Benke, seconded by Paul Hernandez) to find the entire property a public nuisance feasible to repair. All structures (main, accessory one, accessory two) to be repaired within 90 days. Conditions: engineer letter, 15-day progress reports to code officer, all permits pulled, and an itemized scope of work. Vote: 4-0-1 (Dr. Hussein abstained). The original motion (demolition of accessories) was set aside.
Case 3: 5246 Village Crest (reset from February 5, 2026)
- Presentation: Dangerous Premise Officer Cynthia Santana recommended demolition. Owner Carrie Semang was incarcerated; notices had been sent to an incorrect facility. The property suffered a fire on November 18, 2025, with significant structural damage, collapsed roof, charred framing, and unsecured openings. No scope of work, engineer report, or permits had been filed.
- Public Testimony: Elizabeth Rogers (holder of a signed power of attorney from the owner) argued the structure could be repaired for $40,000 or less, citing an incorrect bank balance of over $60,000, a contractor bid of 8 weeks, and willingness to obtain an engineer. She explained the owner had been unaware of the hearings due to misdirected mail and that she had secured the property with plastic sheeting and a camera.
- Outcome: Motion by Fred Andes, seconded by Paul Hernandez, to find the property a public nuisance feasible to repair. Repair order within 90 days. Conditions: property must be secured with a perimeter fence (chain‑link or similar) around the structure, 20-day progress reports to code officer, engineer letter, all permits required. Vote: 4-0-1 (Dr. Hussein abstained).
Key Outcomes
- 1447/1449 Arangus Avenue: Demolition ordered within 30 days (vacate and secure). Vote 4-0-1.
- 206 Cato Street: All structures (main and two accessories) to be repaired within 90 days with conditions (engineer letter, 15-day check-ins, permits, itemized scope). Vote 4-0-1.
- 5246 Village Crest: Repair within 90 days with conditions (security fence, 20-day reports, engineer letter, permits). Vote 4-0-1.
- New Members: Dr. Fazal Hussein (observer, Panel A) and Jamie Little (Panel B) joined the BSB.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The time is 9 05 on 7 May 2026. The San Antonio Building Standards Board will come to order. My name is Dwayne Nelson. I'm the chair for this morning's meeting. If we could, let's have a roll call, please. Joane Nelson. Present. Paul Hernandez. Present. Doris Elise. Robert Benke. Here. Fred Andes. Here. Ryan Baldwin. Dr. Fazal Hussein. Here. Also present in the meeting from the City of San Antonio or Civita Ray from the City Attorney's Office and from Development Services. Jenny Ramidez, Interim Code Enforcement Administrator, Melissa Garza, Administrative Assistant 2. Estor Tees, Development Services Specialist One, and myself, Judy Kroom, Development Services Specialist Supervisor. Chair Quorum is present. Thank you. The City of San Antonio provides translation services for anyone who may need that translation service. Let's have the translation of that offering. Good morning. Buenos días a todos. Thank you. We would like to welcome Dr. Faisal Hassan to the board this morning. He will be uh observing the practice for the building standards board. Uh, in case you wonder why he was not vote on everything, the board goes through some intensive training. He has not completed that training yet, so he will be observing what we actually do in a public meeting. Uh a quorum is present as we stated, please sign your cell phone or any device that may disrupt this public hearing. No person shall delay or disrupt the proceedings or disobey the orders of the chair. If you wish to speak on the case, you'll be allowed three minutes. However, an owner or owner's representative will have unlimited time. Please keep all information relevant to the property in question and the code violations. As advised prior to this public hearing, the city will provide translation services for anyone needing assistance. It is our understanding that you have made such arrangements as advised in your notice of hearing. Our expectation is that you submitted the required documents prior to this public hearing. Your responsibility as a property owner or lienholder of a dilapidated structure case is to demonstrate the following. Number one, provide the required documents. Discuss your detailed scope of work with a cost of each item outlined in order to bring the copy the property into compliance to the satisfaction of a code officer. Number two, submit the required proof of financial ability to pay for proposed work and discuss feasibility of repair depend upon monies at hand. And number three, request the amount of time needed to complete the work. All abatements ordered by the board shall be enforced. All work proposed must be done within code regulations with required permits prior to commencement of work.
openpublica.com