§ 7-50. Preservation of substandard buildings as historic property

(a) Application. This section shall apply only at such time and for so long as the City of Paris shall be designated as a certified local government by the Texas State Historical Preservation Office as provided by 16 U.S.C.A. Section 470 et seq.

(b) Limitation. This section shall not apply to an owner-occupied, single-family dwelling.

(c) Review by the City of Paris Historic Preservation Commission. Before a notice is set or a hearing is conducted pursuant to section 7-49 of this article, the City of Paris Historic Preservation Commission may review the case materials for all buildings and structures in the historical district, for all designated landmark buildings and structures with a federal, state or local landmark designation, and for all buildings and structures fifty (50) years or older that are considered dangerous by the city's code inspectors to determine whether such building or structure can be rehabilitated or designated:

(1) On the National Register of Historic Places; or

(2) As recorded Texas Historic Landmark; or

(3) As historic property as designated by the City Council of the City of Paris.

(d) If the City of Paris Historic Preservation Commission reviews a building or structure, the historic preservation commission shall submit a written report to the building and standards commission indicating the results of the review conducted under this section before a public hearing is conducted pursuant to section 7-49 of this article.

(e) If the City of Paris Historical Preservation Commission determines that a building or structure cannot be rehabilitated or designated as historic property, the building and standards commission shall proceed as provided in section 7-49 of this article.

(f) If the City of Paris Historic Preservation Commission determines a building or structure may be rehabilitated or designated a historic property, the building and standards commission will defer any order of demolition for the building or structure for at least one hundred eighty (180) calendar days after the date the report from the City of Paris Historic Preservation Commission is submitted to the building and standards commission. During this one hundred eighty (180) or greater calendar day period, the City of Paris Historic Preservation Commission shall notify the owner and attempt to identify a feasible alternative use for the building or structure or locate an alternative purchaser to rehabilitate and maintain the building or structure. If the City of Paris Historic Preservation Commission is unable to locate the owner or if the owner does not respond within the one hundred eighty (180) calendar day period, the city may seek the appointment of a receiver pursuant to section 214.003 of the Texas Local Government Code.

(g) The building and standards commission may require the building or structure to be demolished as provided in this article after the expiration of the one hundred eighty (180) or greater calendar day period if the City of Paris Historic Preservation Commission is unable to:

(1) Identify a feasible alternative use of the building or structure;

(2) Locate an alternative purchaser to rehabilitate and maintain the building or structure; or

(3) In the absence of the owner or the owner's response, cause the appointment of a receiver pursuant to section 214.003 of the Texas Local Government Code.

(h) An owner of a building or structure shall not be liable for penalties as otherwise authorized under subsection 7-49(e) of this article related to said building or structure during the one hundred eight (180) or greater calendar day period provided for disposition of historic property under this section.

(Ord. No. 2002-032, §§ 2, 3, 6-10-02; Ord. No. 2012-016, § 2, 5-31-12)