Fayetteville councilman to property owners: Fix it up or tear it down

City leaders in Fayetteville are considering an ordinance that would require owners of commercial properties to either fix them up or tear them down. The law would mirror one already in place for residential property owners.

The sight of boarded-up commercial businesses in Fayetteville has caught the eyes and attention of Councilman D.J. Haire. He wants the Fayetteville City Council to create a beautification ordinance for commercial property like the one already in place for residential property owners.

The city's residential property ordinance has several components.

Owners must notify the city within 48 hours after boarding up a building.

They must submit a plan for regular maintenance for any property.

And the property must be either to be fixed up or torn down within three years.

Dr. Jerry Newton, Fayetteville development services director, wonders, "Why do we allow buildings that are vacant to be boarded up for years on end? He (Haire) has a council request and asked that we take a look at it. and that's what we're going to do."

Patrick Murray, who has been a commercial property real estate broker in Fayetteville for 17 years, thinks the ordinance would be good for the city.

"As a broker in the area, it's going to make our job easier to have a more presentable property," Murphy said. "We always advise our clients to do those kind of things to maintain the property while they're vacant. It's something we're already doing as a firm to try to maintain our listings and our properties."

The city council will consider the proposal at its next meeting. There will be a public hearing. If approved, the plan could into effect before the end of this year.