MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The Hutchinson City Council has scheduled a public hearing to consider the status of five residential properties identified as unsafe and dangerous structures within the city.
During Tuesday evening’s meeting, the council approved a resolution setting a hearing for 5:30 p.m. April 21, 2026, to review the condition of the properties and determine next steps.
City Building Official Jason Ladely told council members that inspections determined the structures meet the definition of unsafe or dangerous buildings under Chapter 21, Article 7 of the city code.
The properties included in the resolution are located at:
- 913 E. Fifth Ave.
- 404 W. Fifth Ave.
- 201 N. Waldron St.
- 113 W. Avenue B
- 827 E. First Ave.
Lady said the city has issued notices to the property owners and opened property maintenance cases for each location beginning in 2025. One of the properties, at 913 E. Fifth Ave., was the site of a structure fire that prompted an investigation in June 2025.
City officials said the upcoming hearing will allow property owners the opportunity to address the conditions of the buildings before the city determines whether demolition or other action is required.
According to Lady, funding for potential demolitions is already included in the city’s fiscal year 2026 demolition budget, meaning the action is not expected to create additional financial obligations for the city.
Based on the size and type of the structures, Lady estimated demolition costs would likely range from $5,000 to $8,000 per property.
Council members also discussed whether nonprofit housing partners, including Interfaith Housing and Community Services, had attempted to contact owners about acquiring or rehabilitating the properties. Lady said the city provides its list of problem properties to nonprofit partners, though he could not confirm whether those specific addresses had been contacted.
The five properties are in addition to five other residential structures the council began the unsafe structure process on earlier this year. Those properties are:
- 419 East Ave. F
- 1526 East 2nd Ave.
- 224 East 3rd Ave.
- 213 East 8th Ave.
- 526 West Ave. A
A public hearing for these properties is set for 5:30 p.m. on April 7.
City officials said addressing abandoned and unsafe housing aligns with Hutchinson’s strategic objective of investing in neighborhoods and improving housing conditions, particularly in areas south of 17th Avenue, identified in the Reno County Housing Needs Assessment as priority areas.