Lawton Mayor Breaks 4-4 Tie: Demolition Process Begins for NW Baltimore House

The house at 2211 NW Baltimore has been on the city’s dilapidated list since March 25, 2025. Tuesday night, the Lawton City Council split 4-4 on whether to give its owner another 90 days to renovate, and Mayor Stan Booker cast the deciding vote to deny the extension.“I have little confidence that the work will be done,”Booker said.

The owner, known locally as“Charlie,”has sunk significant money into the property: $17,000 of his own for a new roof and $4,000 in donations toward foundation repairs. But he lost his job Aug. 8, didn’t start working again until Oct. 15, and his remodeling permit expired Sept. 21. Meanwhile, Neighborhood Services documented ongoing problems including cracks, broken windows, a loose garage soffit, a deteriorated fence, and a profane phrase spray-painted on the house. Councilman Lane Hooton called it an eyesore and said the money put in“just hasn’t been good enough.”

Denial moves the property into the demolition process, with bids going out and a contract awarded to the lowest bidder in about two months. It’s a case that pulls hard on both sides: neighbors who have waited nearly two years for relief, and a homeowner trying to hold on through a rough stretch. What do you think — should the city have given Charlie 90 more days, or was it time to act? Let us know on our Facebook page.