VENICE -- The city is postponing the demolition of an woman's mobile home after a roofer volunteered to make the repairs needed to correct a 3-year-old building code violation.

Audrey Allen-Wordell, 66, who does not own a telephone, ignored the city's repeated attempts to contact her and has not attended hearings related to a 2003 code violation over unapproved repairs made to the roof of her mobile home.

Strong winds or a hurricane could tear the roof from the home, endangering the homes and safety of her Hatchett Creek Mobile Home Park neighbors, officials say.

The decision is a reversal from three weeks ago, when the city set a 30-day deadline to kick Allen-Wordell out of her mobile home and demolish it.

"It's not to our advantage to do that," said City Manager Marty Black. "We would rather have it repaired."

Black said the city would hold off on the demolition for "a couple of weeks."

The decision came weeks after Frank DiPolito, a general manager at SOS Roofing in North Port, sent building officials a handwritten letter saying he would perform the necessary repairs.

DiPolito roughly estimated the cost of the repairs at $12,000 to $14,000 and said he hopes to set up a fund at a local bank to which people can donate for the repairs. In the meantime, he said those interested in contributing to the effort could contact him. He said his company will perform the repairs at cost. DiPolito also said he's enlisted the help of a local contractor and engineer to help.

DiPolito said he decided to intervene after hearing about the demolition last month.

"It was just out of concern," DiPolito said. "We live in a world today where sometimes nobody wants to get involved or help anybody."

Last October, Allen-Wordell missed a hearing in which a judge issued an order allowing the city to demolish the home and collect more than $5,200 from her for legal fees and expenses. Three weeks ago, the City Council acted on the order, agreeing to spend $6,000 for movers to put Allen-Wordell's belongings on the curb and tear down the house in 30 days.

Now, DiPolito said he and city building officials have tentatively arranged to meet at Allen-Wordell's home on May 8 to determine exactly what repairs need to be performed.

DiPolito said Allen-Wordell's decision to ignore city officials probably stemmed from gruff treatment she said she received from a former city building inspector.

"She's not crazy, she's not a recluse, she's not anything too abnormal," DiPolito said. "She described the code enforcement officer as a really big guy, talked very nasty and mean to her and scared the daylights out of her."

Black disputed that claim, saying the inspector is friendly.

Black said the decision to delay would likely anger several of Allen-Wordell's neighbors, who have contacted the city and urged them to go ahead with the demolition.

"We have had several residents in the mobile home park who are demanding that we immediately go out and tear down the building," Black said.

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