![\"Boarded](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/boarded_up_house_1920x1080.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLubbock wants to act faster against abandoned properties that sometimes violate city codes and attract squatters, Jarrett Atkinson, city manager, said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Mark McBrayer asked Atkinson to add the issue to the city\u2019s list of requests for state lawmakers. State Representative Carl Tepper said he\u2019s happy to help but he\u2019s not sure state law is the problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m specifically thinking of 66th Street near Avenue P and the conditions that are out there. If you\u2019ve driven there, you notice that many of those houses are boarded up. People are squatting in them,\u201d McBrayer said in Tuesday\u2019s City Council meeting.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\t\tBoarded up house in Central Lubbock. Credit: Staff photo.<\/p>\n
The city has a good process to enforce local ordinances, said Stuart Walker, code administration director. However, it can take a while.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did a demolition of a house that I\u2019ve been aware of for 28 years in Lakeridge this year,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n
We asked Walker if that\u2019s unusual.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis type of case is quite normal,\u201d Walker answered.<\/p>\n
He described what sometimes happens with an abandoned house.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll go over there and board it up or secure it. Or they\u2019ll clean the yard. But \u2026 they have a vacant house. If they don\u2019t check it every day vandals get into it or homeless people get into it,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n
The homeowner patches it up, and the city process starts over.<\/p>\n
Current state law<\/p>\n
State law (Local Government Code Chapter 214) allows a city to regulate houses or structures that are \u201cdilapidated, substandard, or unfit for human habitation and a hazard to the public health, safety, and welfare.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city must \u201cmake a diligent effort\u201d to find the property owner and figure out who might have a protected interest (like a lienholder). In some cases, a city can demand changes within 30 days. In other cases, the owner might be allowed to submit a plan and a schedule. <\/p>\n
Tying the city\u2019s hands<\/p>\n
Atkinson told LubbockLights.com, \u201cTo me, it\u2019s a timeliness question.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re protecting the private property rights of a substandard structure \u2013 and we\u2019re not protecting the private property rights of those that are enduring those conditions for an extended period of time,\u201d Atkinson said.<\/p>\n
McBrayer said in the council meeting, \u201cA lot of people don\u2019t understand that our hands are tied on how we deal with private property.\u201d<\/p>\n
The process eventually works, Atkinson said. He\u2019d like it to be quicker.<\/p>\n
Walker said, \u201cWe can\u2019t do anything to the property such as secure it, board it up or anything like that until we go before the judge. \u2026 Typically, we take five to 10 to court every month.\u201d<\/p>\n
There might be 40 to 50 active cases at any given time, Walker said.<\/p>\n
The city recently took action on the former Highland Hospital location at 2424 50th Street.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got an order from the court that will allow us to go and board up the windows and the doors,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n
The city will also take bids to demolish the building, Walker said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know 1515 34th we demolished this year,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe commercial structures \u2013 those can get real pricey due to the siloed structure as well as any kind of remediation we have to do \u2013 asbestos in particular,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n
Walker said the city can attach a lien to the property in an effort to recover the cost.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s budget set aside more than $500,000 for special services \u2013 which includes demolition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe generally demolish 15 or 20 houses and commercial structures a year,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n
Recent attention on 2424 50th<\/p>\n
The former Highland Hospital location was the subject of recent online attention<\/a>. <\/p>\n In response, a statement from Covenant Health said, \u201cWe are aware of the concerns and media reports regarding the building at 2424 50th Street. The building being referenced is not owned by Covenant Health.\u201d <\/p>\n
![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/boarded_up_hospital_1920x1080_v03.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/volunteer_activism_96dp_000000_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz48.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n