Within highly constrained circumstances, they can come and demolish the property. IANAL, but I believe the legal rationale is under the nuisance law -- that an

Within highly constrained circumstances, they can come and demolish the property. IANAL, but I believe the legal rationale is under the nuisance law -- that an abandoned building constitutes a nuisance to the community, like a pickle works or a paper mill, and either the owner must mitigate the nuisance, or suffer consequences. The point of the story is that the city appears to be abusing the law. A building with a legitimate Certificate of Occupancy is not dilapidated, and a building which is occupied is not abandoned.