NEDERLAND — The fate of a Nederland Avenue store that has been under construction for more than six years is in the balance.

Nederland councilmembers will discuss and possibly take action regarding the rehabilitation or condemnation and demolition of the abandoned and dilapidated structure at 2423 Nederland Ave. during the 4:30 p.m. meeting Monday at City Hall, 207 N. 12^th St.

Chris Duque, Nederland city manager, said back in December council members agreed to give the owner, Waleed Khan, until the end of March to either fix the half-constructed building or start the demo process that was set to happen April 2. But Khan filed a temporary restraining order March 29, sparing the structure from demolition.

Khan first approached the City Council back in January 2012 when he was granted a specific-use permit to install gas pumps in what is considered a neighborhood retail zoning district. Work on the project stopped in May 2012, according to 2013 archived story.

Khan was given 14 days to re-permit and restart the project in April 2013 and a clause was added giving the business owner two additional months to get the work done.

Khan told council members at that time he had had to stop work on the project because of a family member’s illness.

The issue has remained on the council’s radar since then with council members giving the business owner extra time to complete his project of building a convenience store.

In other business:

• Council members will conduct a joint public hearing regarding the minimum lot size for duplex and townhome use, townhome requirements and various other sections of the code of ordinance.

Duque said in the past few years the city has seen an increase in people wanting to build duplexes and townhomes.

• Council members will receive an update of the Nederland Avenue Paving, Drainage and Utility Improvements Project.

“We had a construction conference with the Nederland Avenue contractor yesterday (Thursday) morning and they presented a draft work schedule,” he said. “On Monday we plan to announce when construction will start. Things are progressing and there has been a lot of coordination going on between the street project and the drainage project.”

Duque said all parties want the project to go as smoothly as possible and that a letter will be sent to property and business owners in the project area with contact information.

“We want to reach out so there are no surprises and residents know who to call. That’s something City Council has stressed through almost a year of public forums,” he said.

• Consider the solicitation of bids for the 2018 Hot Mix Overlay Project. The proposed areas include:
• Holmes Road from Beauxart Garden Road to the end of the street.
• 14^th Street from the 500 block of Helena Avenue.
• 15^th Street from Nederland Avenue to Helena Avenue.
• South 14^th Street from Nederland Avenue to Avenue H.
• South 17^th Street from Nederland Avenue to Avenue E.
• 22^nd Street from Helena Avenue to Canal.

The city’s street improvement find is covering the cost of the project.

• Council members will consider approving the payment of about $63,000 to Republic Services for Hurricane Harvey debris disposal services (landfill).

Duque said the city does plan to seek reimbursement for the costs and that since January they have been picking up reconstruction and debris from Harvey and are “one of the few cities still doing this.”

Councilmembers look at the need each month and make a decision to continue pickup or not.

“Over the past couple of weeks we’re seen a huge drop n he amount of materials being put out so maybe we’re finally getting to an end,” he said.