FARGO, N.D. (KFGO) – The owner of a condemned house who sued the city of Fargo a year ago has lost. City inspectors declared the two-story rental property at 427 15th Avenue South, too dangerous to live in and condemned it in August of 2018.
Pete Sabo was ordered to tear it down within 30-days or the city would do it at his expense. Sabo appealed the decision, claiming his property rights were violated. That put the demolition on hold. Last week, a Cass County District Court judge upheld the city decision for demolition, saying the city commission did not err in the process.
Sabo can appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court but his attorney, Johnathan Garaas tells KFGO News, his client is still “weighing his options.”
If there is no appeal, the demolition process would resume, according to City Attorney Erik Johnson.
Sabo argued he had a rent-to-own deal with a tenant who did most of the damage to the house before abandoning it. The city Inspections Department said Sabo kept getting permits but never finished repairs. Sabo said he couldn’t finish repairs because his building permit was revoked and he had been ill and unable to continue fixing the house.
Neighbors had complained for years about the condition of the house and urged it be torn down when the city moved to condemn the house.
Sabo owns dozens of rental properties throughout Fargo-Moorhead and is best known as the owner of “Bison Turf.”