Palm Beach urging demolition of fire-ruined house

The roofless house at 416 Brazilian Avenue must come down, say town officials. A year after the fire that killed a friend of owner Jimmy Barker, the cost of demolition is now about $70,000, and he says he needs cash to complete it. Jeff Taylor, an official with the town building department, said the two-story property has become a danger to the neighborhood. The town’s Code Enforcement Board has imposed fines of $250 a day, and the total is up to $34,880, which Barker said he will appeal.