PRESCOTT – On Sept. 14, the Prescott City Council voted unanimously to continue with a raze order for 915 Canton St.

The building, which has been used for industrial storage, is owned by Crystal Metz, who lives in Arizona. The property is zoned “light industrial,” but police and firefighters found a fully constructed residential unit in the southeast corner of the building when responding to a Feb. 10, 2025 structure fire. City ordinance prohibits this.

City Administrator Matt Wolf said city staff tried to work with the property owner to gain voluntary access to the property, which was originally a lumberyard, without success. The city obtained a special inspection warrant and Wolf, Police Chief Eric Michaels and Building Inspector Todd Dolan conducted a full inspection on Dec. 17, 2025. The inspection identified extensive water and fire damage, unpermitted construction, structural failures, unsafe electrical conditions, mold and other health hazards and incompatible occupancies without the required fire separation, Wolf said.

Dolan deemed the building unsafe, uninhabitable and dangerous with a recommendation to raze it. On Jan. 12, the council voted to proceed with the raze order but decided at the Jan. 26 meeting to take a “repair or raze” approach. The city approved a repair and improvement plan Feb. 23 with the agreement that improvements begin immediately. However, more than six months have passed with no meaningful signs of progress, Wolf said. The building has remained almost unchanged since the fire.

“The owner has stated that a permit has been applied for through the state but communication with the Department of Safety and Professional Services has indicated no permit process has begun on the project and the owner has not supplied us with any proof that that permit has been applied for,” Wolf said.

The city attorney provided formal notice to the owner’s attorney Aug. 31 regarding noncompliance of the repair agreement. A separate party contacted the city, saying they would be interested in fixing the building and using it for industrial storage, Wolf said. As far as he knows, they have not been in contact with Metz. Any potential new owner would have to meet the same repair standards required of the current owner.

In the recent 2026 Comprehensive Plan update, the city identified that area as appropriate for eventual transition to multi-family residential or commercial as an opportunity to redevelop the underutilized and blighted industrial area. However, the Comprehensive Plan does not change the zoning nor prohibit a lawful industrial use, Wolf said.

Wolf presented two options to the council to consider:

1. Approve working with a new owner to repair the building, giving them the opportunity to rehabilitate the structure for industrial/storage use.
2. Continue with the raze order. The owner would have 30 days to complete the removal once the raze order is approved, which could be at the Oct. 12 meeting.

Alderperson Maureen Otwell said they should remain consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and continue with the raze order.

“There’s already so much housing in that area that it seems to me that that would be, it just makes more sense to move ahead with housing rather than an industrial site.

Wolf said there’s no guarantee someone else might not come in and propose an industrial use for the property.

According to the board packet, at minimum, the approved repair plan requires the following:

• Full replacement of the entire building roof.
• Structural framing: Replacement of four structural posts and 10 roof trusses, including installation and verification of new footings.
• Previously installed footings and posts: Verification of the depth, dimensions, and code compliance of previously installed structural components, including excavation where necessary.
• North building section: Replacement/wrapping of exterior and interior wall and roof panels and installation of new insulation.
• Electrical: Full removal and replacement of the electrical systems serving the north and middle portions of the building by a licensed electrician under the appropriate permits.
• Fire-damaged electrical components: Evaluation of the entire electrical system and replacement of components damaged by heat or water.
• Insulation: Reinstallation of ceiling insulation in the north and middle sections and replacement of wall insulation in the north portion.
• Doors: Replacement of the north-side sliding doors with overhead doors.
• Fire separation: Installation of required code-compliant separation between differing industrial/storage occupancies.
• Mold and water damage: Remediation of mold and water-damaged materials, followed by documentation from a qualified professional verifying that remediation has been successfully completed.
• Unpermitted construction and debris: Removal or correction of damaged and noncompliant construction and removal of debris and other materials identified by the City.
• Permitting and inspections: All structural, electrical, and other required permits must be obtained, with work subject to inspection and final approval before the building is occupied or placed back into use.

The topic will be brought back to the Oct. 12 council meeting.