Memphis, TN - The City of Memphis tore down the wrong house and it cost taxpayers $29,000. The duplex used to be located at 1072 Garland Street. Records show Memphis Code Enforcement officers never notified the homeowner the house was scheduled for demolition.
Memphis city council member Myron Lowery says “Paying for a $29,000 house is a big hit that never should have happened. Someone made a mistake and they should be disciplined for it.”
According to city records, four years ago the city began condemning the property. Then it was sold to the current owner. Records show the owner made thousands of dollars worth of repairs.
Fred Coleman lives next door and was hired to do the work. Coleman says “It was a mess inside. We gutted the house inside, cleaned up the stuff, and painted the outside.” The house came down anyway.
Lowery says “We have too much incompetence at city government and we have too many employees that pass the buck to other employees.”
The homeowner was not living in the home at the time. He was fixing it up to turn into rental property.
Despite what is documented in city records, a city spokesperson says code enforcement followed procedures and the city paid the claim to avoid a lawsuit.
