(a) The owner of a landmark or structure located within a Historic District has the duty to provide sufficient maintenance and upkeep for such structures to ensure its perpetuation and to prevent its destruction by deterioration. Failure to comply with any Building and/or Exterior Property Maintenance Code, or citation arising from such violation, may constitute grounds for civil and/or criminal enforcement action. Owners and operators are prohibited from recklessly permitting such failure to comply or other visible neglect which, if not abated and corrected, would result in the imminent condemnation and demolition of any landmark or building located within a Historic District.
(b) No person shall cause or commence demolition of any designated landmark, or architectural feature thereof, or any building located within a Historic District (in whole or in part) prior to compliance with Section 165.12. Any such unlawful demolition shall be punishable by the criminal and civil penalties.
(c) In any case where the Building Commissioner, the Board of Health, the Fire Chief or any other duly authorized officer or agency of the City shall order or direct the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or demolition of any improvement to a landmark, or building or other structure located in a Historic District, for the purpose of remedying conditions determined by that department, agency or officer, to be imminently dangerous to life, health or property, nothing contained herein shall be construed as making it a violation of this chapter for any person to comply with such order or directive without receipt of a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission. Any such department, agency or officer shall give the Commission as early notice as practicable of the proposed or actual issuance of any such order or directive.
(Ord. 2018-96. Passed 11-20-18.)