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Live next to a vacant nuisance?
03/11/2009 7:20 PM by John M
It came out at tonight’s CAPS meeting that “there is no money for boarding up vacant houses until July”.
Neighbors complained about the long-time nuisance at Pink and Venable Streets, a commercial property which has recently had the front door completely smashed out. Even prior to this it was common to see activity at the building even after most of the windows and other door had been boarded; this is an area with issues.
As seen above, the storefront is complete open. CAPS is aware of the condition of the building, but officers have been limited to treating the property with a foul smelling goo in an attempt to keep away trespassers.
So, what do we do? All pitch in for something to board it up? Would that even help? Maybe the owner will burn it down for the insurance money.
JANICE P HASKINS is listed as the owner since 1995. Looks like she hasn’t been home for a while.
Shame, it must have been a nice building in it’s hey day.
7 sheets of plywood cut would take care ot it. Screw them to the windows from the inside and then bolt and screw one to the front door.
Can anyone go and board it up or do you need permission through CAPs? Technically we’d be damaging the building doing that.
It would be illegal to enter the building and would also be considered property damage if you screwed something into the window or door frames. Also, you don’t put the plywood on the inside because it causes water to collect in the window frames and thresholds and it also makes it easier to kick in that way.
So, there’s money for “foul-smelling goo”, but not for plywood? If someone decides to go board-up the building, just carry a clipboard and clip a tape measure to your belt. I’ve found that you rarely get questioned when you look like you’re acting in an official capacity. A hardhat helps, too. Of course, this really should not be necessary! I wonder what happened the house next door (in the old photo) with the picket fence?
What a shame. Will the City accept plywood donations from the community to board it up?
Ramzi, do you happen to know what happened to what I thought was a city ordinance (or rule, whatever) -specifically, that the owner has to board up property that’s not lived in for 12 months or longer? Followed by, if the owner fails to do something like that, the city does it and bills the owner. Followed by, if the owner doesn’t pay, the city puts a lien on the property.
I know for a fact that things were handled like that in the past (and in one case I’m thinking of, it was probably fifteen years ago). Anyone else familiar with CAPS able to advise if CAPS has now taken over that task of boarding up, which is causing a lack of boarding due to lack of funds?
Forgot to add to John M. – nice photo of the house/store back in the day!
There is no money for boarding up vacant houses until July?
I thought that is what fines were for.
And if they don’t pay the fines, I thought that’s what auctions were for.
The process by which the city combats derelict property owners needs to be revamped.
It seems to take take years to get any action taken. Is this because of the city or the court system?
I would escalate this to the council member foer the district and to Rachel Flynn, Director of Community Development.
Living people pay fines the dead ones get warning after warning and they still can’t seem to take care of things. They post warnings instead of researching things and they have all that info and refuse to do the basics to track people down.
Wondering if people saw this or know about this situation, just to spark more debate (evil laugh):
“Remodeling Anarchy”
styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&t…
I’d linked over to the North Richmond News post about that at the time:
activists challenge Lawrence in Northside
This building has been boarded up now, and the TV stations didn’t even have to pick up the story.
Hooray!
Any word on whether Wilder’s Spot Blight Abatement program is working? Anyone got any testimonials? I would imagine that the city is not eager to actually go into the business of taking over, renovating, and selling houses… maybe that’s why it is so slow to act against Oliver Lawrence?
Two vacant and abandoned houses next to two of our rental properties have been demolished. I reported both of them to the city using the online citizens request system last year. It took about 4-6 months for them to disappear.
I don’t know if they were already on the list to go or if my request had any impact – maybe it was coincidence – but the structures are gone now, and my tenants are very happy they do not have to deal with the rats and other critters living in those overgrown yards and dilapidated buildings.
We have a couple abandoned attached brick homes across the alley from us. The building itself was used as a repository for all sorts of goods and the back yard was used as a bathroom and lounge. A couple months ago some guys came out and tore down a wood addition, cleaned up the trash, boarded up the house, put up a wire fence, and posted no trespassing signs. We haven’t seen the party goers since, but maybe they’ll try and get back once the weather warms up a bit. Anyway, I know the property was on the “list” and I had called the cops to it a few times, and regardless of why it was cleaned up, I’ll through Wilder a bone on this one and give his administration credit for helping to clean up this property.
I could have also just as easily “throw” him a bone.
That place looks better than the house two doors down from me, only there are people living in it.