Print edition: 
Facing a list of 13 houses slated for condemnation Tuesday, Wichita City Council members said they want to explore new ways to deal with houses that are in a potentially dangerous state of disrepair.
The discussion started when council member Paul Gray said the city needs to consider the net effect of tearing down so many houses. Too often, no one buys those vacant lots to redevelop them, he said.
City Manager Robert Layton said that he and other officials have talked about creating a housing task force that examines new methods of handling neglected houses. That could happen in the next few months.
Council member Lavonta Williams, whose district has the highest number of houses being torn down by the city, said she struggles with the issue.
"It's very painful to have to go through this on a monthly basis," she said.
Williams often gives homeowners more time if they indicate they want to fix up the homes. Still, many of the homeowners learn they can't afford extensive structural repairs and the homes return to the council for condemnation.
Craig Gabel, owner of Mike's Steakhouse and a former Sedgwick County commission candidate, said he has talked with Williams about potential solutions.
Gabel has increasingly advocated on homeowners' behalf at condemnation hearings. In many cases, he has helped finance or has bought problem homes.
He said about 90 houses between Hillside and Grove and Central and 21st Street will likely face condemnation in coming months.
Gabel said he has bought and fixed up 195 houses on the south end of the city and seven in north Wichita.
"We really do need to set up something to try to improve these houses as opposed to tearing them down and having these vacant lots," he said.
Vice Mayor Jim Skelton said that he's interested in transferring more properties to groups such as Habitat for Humanity that may rebuild on vacant lots.
But Skelton, who has pressed for quicker enforcement on blighted homes, indicated he wants the city to be proactive in addressing problem homes.
"My experience is that the neighborhoods do want these eliminated," he said.
