Nichols Hills weighs property rights vs. quality
NICHOLS HILLS — City council members want to see iconic, historic homes preserved rather than demolished, while safeguarding the rights of property owners to do as they wish with properties they acquire.
One council member, at least, wants to see fewer “spec homes” — homes built to be sold — that fall short of the vision for Nichols Hills that the founders had when the community was established.
The three-member city council used a special meeting recently to explore what the city might do to encourage the development of better-constructed spec homes, and to have more oversight over renovation and new-construction projects. City Manager Shane Pate said staff would develop some options that the council can weigh at a future meeting if it desires.
Mayor Sody Clements said she’s puzzled why developers sometimes buy lots where a home already exists rather than purchasing a vacant lot if the intent is to build a spec home. She said vacant lots suitable for a home can be found throughout the approximately 2-square-mile city that’s bordered by
If you are going to demolish, show us your history, what you have done. We love this city, and don’t want to see anything but excellence.”
Council member Peter Hoffman
Oklahoma City and The Village.
She said the council discussion was prompted by complaints from Nichols Hills residents about the proliferation of spec homes over about the past 10 years. And she said the council at some point needs to more closely define what constitutes a remodeling project.
She and council member Steve Goetzinger conceded, however, that some homes have been allowed to deteriorate to the point that they need to be razed.
“We need to not let things go too far so we (don’t) have demolition by neglect,” Clements said. “Sometimes it’s a difficult situation, made more difficult by the homeowner.”
Pate pointed out that some homes being demolished might not have fallen into neglect. “We don’t know that,” he said.
He said some homes become demolition targets because of features that might not be considered desirable by today’s homebuyer, such as 8-foot-high ceilings or single-car garages.
Council member Peter Hoffman said he would like to see a system whereby developers, before launching a construction or renovation project, first are made aware of the “history and vision” originally set for Nichols Hills, as well as higher construction standards for new homes.
Hoffman said he knows of eight to 20 homes that have been built within the past few years “that are not even remotely good homes.” Builders, he said, should be required to show evidence that they build top-quality homes before being allowed to undertake a project in Nichols Hills.
“If you are going to demolish, show us your history, what you have done,” Hoffman said. “We love this city, and don’t want to see anything but excellence.”
Pate said possible remedies that would be given to the council to examine. They might include fees higher than the $75 currently charged for a demolition permit, tighter regulation of building materials used in construction and stricter enforcement of the city’s existing demolition criteria, he said.
Before the meeting, Clements said that before any ordinance could be considered by the threemember council, it would be the topic of a public hearing.