House on Rockbrook in San Angelo Finally Falls Monday Morning

On Sept. 2, neighbors and spectators watched as the house at 3022 Rockbrook went up in flames, and since that time, some neighbors reported people coming and going in the neighborhood to get a look at the structure.

One neighbor, who wished not to be named, said her community suffered traffic congestion for a longer than expected period of time.

“My daughter took off for a day trip [one day]. She couldn’t handle the constant tourists,” she added. “She parks her truck in the front and tried to go get gas, but had to follow a car going 5 miles an hour down the street. I can’t tell you how many times since [the fire] the number of cars and trucks that have been backing up, doing three-point turns, parking, or slowly cruising along, clogging things up. This was always a quiet neighborhood. It may be a thrill for these people who are coming to check it out, but those of us who live here are shaken and traumatized by what happened.”

Hopefully for the neighbors, the house will no longer be a problem after this week because early Monday morning, officials from the City of San Angelo’s Dangerous Buildings Program, along with demolition crews, began the tedious job of clearing the dilapidated structure that was once Wayne Bunn’s home of 30 years. When the structure came down, it sounded like a ton of bricks falling.

“It was pretty much a total loss for the entire structure,” said Joanna Jackson, inspector for the Dangerous Buildings Program.

Jackson added that the city worked with the homeowner to give him time to remove things of emotional value, and this morning officials were there to completely clear the unsalvageable structure and lot to make it safe for the neighborhood, 33 days after the actual fire.

“We’re going to try and save the foundation so he can build on it again,” Jackson said. “The underlying property is still his. We don’t actually take possession of it. I will send him a bill. If he doesn’t pay that, the city is authorized to file a lien against the property, which will get us the interest over time until he does pay it.”

For the most part, however, Jackson said Mr. Bunn has complied with the City to prepare the house for demolition, but he didn’t do so completely.

She said, “It was mostly the time to clear what he wanted, and then to get the structure demolished because of the dangerous nature of the chimney still standing and the walls. He did put up a fence to try and block it off from most people getting in, but it’s been an attractive nuisance.”

Additionally, although no fines will be issued to the homeowner, he will be charged for the structure being demolished and cleared. As of Monday morning, there were still a lot of items present, and Jackson said the clutter stemmed on the border of the homeowner being a hoarder, something the neighbors accused Mr. Bunn of as well. Despite the clutter, however, crews should have everything finalized no later than Tuesday.

“It’s sad to lose a family home like that, but if you don’t keep doing the maintenance and keeping all the things like buildup and whatnot, it’s waiting.”

On average, Jackson said she demolishes about 40 dilapidated houses a year. It is a problem in the city, but she has noticed more voluntary compliance because people have learned that, if it’s that bad, she’s going to take care of it if they don’t.

“People are getting better at taking care of these things themselves, but the city still has a problem, especially with absentee owners, people who live out of state and out of town,” Jackson said.

Overall, Jackson noted that she can’t get these absentee owners to reply or do what’s necessary to keep a building safe, and in times like now, when the city faces another storm season, that can become a problem. Jackson said she has to worry about structures, including the Rockbrook home’s chimney, falling over, which could be dangerous not only for the person living in it, but also for the neighboring properties.

“This time of year, the city has a problem with vagrants and transients who get into the vacant homes, and they do try to keep themselves warm with a fire, which is how some of the fires will start,” Jackson noted. “This is one of the main things I try to keep control of in my program.”

Jackson referred to this issue as the Broken Window Theory. Houses like the one on Rockbrook become an attractive nuisance for transients and even kids who think they can go play or do whatever they want in these homes.

However, Jackson said people can assist with this issue by reporting houses of concern. She said people in the community can contact her office at (325)657-4358.