“Hmmm. I’ve heard the term ‘demolition by neglect’. But what does it mean exactly?”

From the City of Lake Worth’s MuniCode,* “Demolition by neglect” is:

• Improper or inadequate maintenance of any designated historic resource which results in its substantial deterioration and threatens its continued preservation.
• Avoidance of demolition by neglect; maintenance and repair of landmark property in historic districts: 

Minimum maintenance standards. Every owner of a landmark or a property in a historic district shall keep in good repair all of the exterior portions of such buildings or structures and all interior portions thereof which, if not so maintained, may cause such buildings or structures to deteriorate or to become damaged or otherwise fall into a state of disrepair . . . The owner shall repair the structure if it is found to have one (1) or more of the following defects:

• Deterioration to the extent that it creates or permits a hazardous or unsafe condition, as determined by the building official.
• Parts or elements of the building are so attached that they may fall and injure persons or property.
• Deteriorated or inadequate foundations, flooring, floor supports, deteriorated walls or other vertical structural supports.
• Defective or deteriorated floor supports or floor supports insufficient to carry imposed loads with safety.
• Members of walls or vertical supports that split, lean, list or buckle because of defective material, workmanship or deterioration.
• Members of ceilings, roofs, ceiling and roof supports or other horizontal members which sag, split or buckle because of defective material, workmanship or deterioration.
• Members of ceilings, roofs, ceiling and roof supports and other horizontal members which are insufficient to carry out imposed loads with safety.
• Fireplaces or chimneys which list, bulge or settle because of defective material, workmanship or deterioration.
• Deteriorated or ineffective waterproofing of exterior walls, roofs, foundations or floors, including broken windows or doors, or deteriorated or crumbling exterior finishes such as stucco, shingles, paint or mortar.
• Defective or insufficient weatherproofing or exterior wall covering because of lack of paint or other protective covering.
• Any fault, defect or condition in the building which renders its structurally unsafe or not properly watertight.

*Source: MuniCode, City of Lake Worth. Current. December 30th, 2016.