City to raze 3 houses and garage

The Fire Department will likely get the chance to conduct training burns on one of the houses.

By Jessie Stensland • February 1, 2022 1:30 am
An Ireland Street house is one of four structures the city of Oak Harbor owns and plans to demolish. (Island County photo)
An Ireland Street house is one of four structures the city of Oak Harbor owns and plans to demolish. (Island County photo)

The city of Oak Harbor plans to demolish three small houses and a garage on city-owned property in order to prevent transient occupancy, reduce the risk to the city’s liability and clear the properties for future use.

The Oak Harbor Fire Department will likely get the chance to conduct training burns on one of the houses.

During a workshop meeting last week, Interim Public Works Director Mick Monken advised the city council of the plans for the structures, which are in a state of disrepair. He said the city has $50,000 in the budget for the demolition projects, which will require the removal of asbestos and an underground oil tank to prevent or minimize leaks.

“We do have people who are sleeping around the house and particularly at the city hall site, around the garage,” Monken said.

The Opportunity Council leased the properties from the city until 2018 for low-income houses, but the nonprofit organization didn’t renew since then due to potential maintenance costs, according to the city.

The houses were originally purchased for the expansion of public facilities, Monken said. The city’s current plan is to use the cleared land for public parking someday.

One of the two properties in question is located next to City Hall at 1045 Southeast Ireland Street. Monken said a tiny, 100-square-foot house and a garage, built in 1948, are beyond repair.

A second, 890-square-foot house, built in 1958, is also on the property. Monken said it has mold, rot and asbestos.

The city purchased the property from Cathryn Vanderzicht in 1987 for $100,000, according to the Island County Assessor’s Office. The current assessed value is $463,000, with the building alone valued at $107,000.

The other property is at 945 Whidbey Avenue, which is west of the Senior Center. It is a one-bedroom, 528-square-foot residence built in 1938, according to the Island County Assessor’s Office. Monken described it as “not historically pleasing.”

A garage next to the house was updated and is being used by the rock and gem club. It is not slated for demolition.