Here is 408 Grove Street, Webster City, which was recently declared “abandoned” by the district court. This ruling allows the deed for the property to revert to the City of Webster City. Soon, a building inspector will examine the house to determine its structural integrity.

The City Council of Webster City voted unanimously on Monday to take title to two derelict properties in the city, one commercial, the other residential.

In recent months the council has voted to tighten code requirements on commercial buildings, requiring building owners to step up general maintenance of their properties to ensure they remain safe for public occupancy and use.

A building at Second Street and Willson Avenue has two addresses: 547 Second Street, home to Coulter’s Paint Store for many years, and 612 Willson Avenue, most recently used as an office by Walker Insurance Agency. The structure was declared unsafe in August 2023 and has been closed to the public ever since. A downtown landmark, the structure was built in 1890, and for a time housed the Fred Hahne Printing Company, publishers of the internationally-distributed and read Aberdeen-Angus Journal.

Recently, the building was declared by the district court to be abandoned; that cleared the way for the city to take possession of it.

City of Webster City Development Director Ariel Bertrain explained that the present owners have until November 21 to remove any property from the building. After that, the building will be inspected to establish its structural condition.

For similar reasons, the council approved ownership by the city of a house at 408 Grove Street. Under Iowa Code Section 657A.10B, the city may file a petition in district court to take possession of what is officially classified as a “vacant and dilapidated home,” deemed dangerous and unsafe. No utilities are currently being provided to the home. As with the 547 Second Street/612 Willson Avenue building, the court has ruled that 408 Grove Street is abandoned. Next, a building inspector will visit the property to determine its basic structural condition, and whether or not it can be rehabilitated.

In a related action, the council approved a development agreement with Jeff Habhab Construction, Inc., of Webster City, in which the city will sell a city-owned derelict house at 614 First Street to Habhab for $1.

In exchange, Habhab must demolish the structure before December 31, 2024. Simultaneously, the council voted to grant $28,000 to Habhab on completion of the demolition, which is $22,000 lower than the lowest bid the city received for demolition.

The council memorandum dealing with the matter noted Habhab plans to demolish the structure “to use in its business operations at 801 Willson Ave. . . .” The building at 801 Willson Avenue is the former U.S. Post Office, which has been unoccupied and unused for many years.

The council passed a measure recently to subject commercial property owners to the city’s building codes. It is hoped this, along with more rigorous building inspections, will improve the safety and long-term viability of downtown’s century-old brick buildings.