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Story
July 10, 1945
The Onslow County News And Views
Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
Gilbert T. Morton, Wilmington building inspector, urges Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce to enforce building codes strictly to remove hazards, improve appearance, and control insurance rates. He describes Wilmington's successful inspection and demolition process.
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Strict Building Code Enforcement Here Urged By Wilmington Speaker
Get yourself a good building inspector, abide by the code and back him up to the limit. Gilbert T. Morton, Wilmington building inspector, told the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce at its July session at Tallman Street USO Thursday evening.
Morton discussed operations of a building code and its functions at the request of the chamber, which is seeking to improve the appearance of the business district as well as eliminate fire and health hazards.
"Unless cheese box construction is removed and prevented," Morton told the chamber, "you're going to have trouble with insurance rates. An inspection here would probably result in higher rates throughout the town now."
Rigid enforcement of building code regulations, already in effect in a State-wide statute, would be about all the zoning necessary for the moment in Jacksonville, Morton said.
In the past four years, between 500 and 600 buildings have been torn down and some 400 have been repaired as result of building inspections in Wilmington. The inspector finds, Morton said, in explanation of the procedure, a building which he considers in need of repair or demolition, and makes such a recommendation to the city council. That body orders an inspection by the fire chief, building inspector, mayor and others, and they issue an order to the property owner to make repairs. If the order is not carried out in the time prescribed by statute, then the building is ordered demolished.
The town has the building torn down, advances the costs and charges them back to the property owner at 6% interest. The property owner gets all the materials salvaged from the demolished structure.
Whenever new construction is contemplated, the property owner submits his plans to the building inspector, and if they meet all requirements of the building code, a permit to build is issued. The same is true for all general repairs.
Morton said that in Wilmington his office was the only self-sufficient one in the city hall, the expenses being met by fees from building permits.
Mayor Ramon Askew, who was not present at the meeting, sent word that the Town Board of Commissioners was back of the building inspection program.
Get yourself a good building inspector, abide by the code and back him up to the limit. Gilbert T. Morton, Wilmington building inspector, told the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce at its July session at Tallman Street USO Thursday evening.
Morton discussed operations of a building code and its functions at the request of the chamber, which is seeking to improve the appearance of the business district as well as eliminate fire and health hazards.
"Unless cheese box construction is removed and prevented," Morton told the chamber, "you're going to have trouble with insurance rates. An inspection here would probably result in higher rates throughout the town now."
Rigid enforcement of building code regulations, already in effect in a State-wide statute, would be about all the zoning necessary for the moment in Jacksonville, Morton said.
In the past four years, between 500 and 600 buildings have been torn down and some 400 have been repaired as result of building inspections in Wilmington. The inspector finds, Morton said, in explanation of the procedure, a building which he considers in need of repair or demolition, and makes such a recommendation to the city council. That body orders an inspection by the fire chief, building inspector, mayor and others, and they issue an order to the property owner to make repairs. If the order is not carried out in the time prescribed by statute, then the building is ordered demolished.
The town has the building torn down, advances the costs and charges them back to the property owner at 6% interest. The property owner gets all the materials salvaged from the demolished structure.
Whenever new construction is contemplated, the property owner submits his plans to the building inspector, and if they meet all requirements of the building code, a permit to build is issued. The same is true for all general repairs.
Morton said that in Wilmington his office was the only self-sufficient one in the city hall, the expenses being met by fees from building permits.
Mayor Ramon Askew, who was not present at the meeting, sent word that the Town Board of Commissioners was back of the building inspection program.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Building Code
Enforcement
Inspections
Demolition
Wilmington
Jacksonville
Chamber Of Commerce
What entities or persons were involved?
Gilbert T. Morton
Mayor Ramon Askew
Where did it happen?
Jacksonville, At Tallman Street Uso; Wilmington
Story Details
Key Persons
Gilbert T. Morton
Mayor Ramon Askew
Location
Jacksonville, At Tallman Street Uso; Wilmington
Event Date
July Session Thursday Evening
Story Details
Gilbert T. Morton advises Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce on implementing strict building code enforcement like in Wilmington, including inspections, repairs, demolitions, and permitting to address hazards and improve the district.