Demolition Begins on Controversial Flandreau Building

City officials say the property has faced multiple code violations since 2020.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 5:03pm

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Demolition crews have started tearing down a controversial building in Flandreau, South Dakota. City officials say the building has been cited for multiple code violations dating back to 2020, and a no-occupancy order was issued in 2024 before the city received a demolition order in 2025. The building's owner, Jeff Weigel, was seen removing items from the property on Thursday morning before the demolition began.

Why it matters

The demolition of this controversial building in Flandreau highlights ongoing challenges with code enforcement and property maintenance, especially for older or neglected structures. The case raises questions about the city's ability to address problem properties and ensure public safety.

The details

According to city officials, the building in question has faced a series of code violations since 2020. A no-occupancy order was issued in 2024, and the city later received a court order in 2025 to demolish the structure. Owner Jeff Weigel says he has been working to bring the building up to code, but new damage from a recent derecho windstorm has complicated those efforts.

  • In 2020, the building was first cited for multiple code violations.
  • A no-occupancy order was issued on the building in 2024.
  • The city received a court order to demolish the building in 2025.
  • On March 27, 2026, demolition crews began tearing down the structure.

The players

Jeff Weigel

The owner of the controversial building in Flandreau that is now being demolished.

Flandreau City Officials

The local authorities who have been overseeing the code enforcement and demolition process for the problematic building.

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What they’re saying

“I've been working on getting the building up to code, but the new damage from the storm has made it really difficult.”

— Jeff Weigel, Building Owner

What’s next

The city plans to monitor the demolition process and ensure the site is properly cleared and secured once the building is removed.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in addressing problem properties and enforcing building codes, especially when owners struggle to maintain aging structures. The demolition of this controversial building in Flandreau underscores the need for proactive code enforcement and clear pathways to resolve long-standing violations.