If any structure shall become abandoned, such structure shall be presumed to be a nuisance affecting or endangering surrounding property values and to be detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare of the community and shall be abated.
Whenever the Code Official shall find any structure to be abandoned within the meaning of this Section, (s)he shall give notice in the same manner as service of summons in civil cases or by certified mail addressed to the owner of record of the premises at the last known address or to the address to which tax bills are sent, or a combination of the foregoing methods, to abate such abandoned condition within thirty (30) days either by placing the structure for another use permitted in the Zoning District, or by razing the structure, removing all debris, any signs, goods, supplies and equipment and filling depressions to the grade level of the lot.
Upon the failure, neglect or refusal of any owner to comply with the notice to abate such abandonment, the Code Official shall advise the Law Director of all the facts and the Law Director shall proceed to exercise on behalf of the City any remedy which shall then be available to it to secure an abatement of such abandonment, including any that pertains to the abatement of a public nuisance, and to recover any damages or enforce any penalties which may be recovered or imposed by the City.
Unoccupied or inoperative structures, whether or not abandoned, as well as the lot upon which any such structure is located, as with any other unoccupied lot, shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of this Code. Any such lot shall be provided with grass or other appropriate ground cover or landscaping material so as to assure absorption of rainfall and prevent erosion and paid run off of surface water. (Ord. 1997-88. Passed 12-17-97.)