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Anybody want a lungful of lead dust?
12/02/2015 10:02 AM by John M
Screenshot from a video posted on Facebook, showing removal of debris from interior demolition at 711 Chimborazo Boulevard. This appears to be someone dumping a wheelbarrow of wall plaster down from the 2nd story porch.
From the original post:
Glad to see someone finally fixing this place up. I just wished they would stop this type of demolition. This whole area is contaminated with possibly lead base paint and whatever else!
I called the city of Richmond a couple days ago to report and was told that the illegal demolition would be taken care of by one of the city’s inspectors.
I have not seen any inspectors and the dumping has not stopped.I’m turning to you all for help because the city is not doing anything.
If you suspect lead content in any of the debris, combined with improper containment, contact EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and request and inspection of the property.
these links may help. there does not appear to be an active demo permit, but maybe the city site is not up to date the owner has dozens of properties in Richmond.
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/leadsafe/resources.htm
http://eservices.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/permits/permitsearch.aspx
http://eservices.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/PropertySearch/Detail.aspx?pin=E0000968018
Lead can destroy a community. Remember in the 80s and 90s, when they made movies like Escape from New York, Robocop, and Judge Dredd? They all expressed a very real fear that violent crime in America was escalating rapidly, and nothing we tried to do could stop it. It’s one of the reasons we have so many prisons.
But then violent crime suddenly reversed direction in the mid-90s. This peak lines up perfectly with atmospheric levels of lead, as well as blood levels in children about 20 years earlier. The correlation is clear and quantifiable, and causality is well documented, that lead exposure in children causes lifelong behavioral problems.
It was all because of the rise and fall of leaded gasoline. Which was invented by Ethyl Corp, the same company that’s housed in the giant, historic-looking white building that overlooks the folk festival. So that’s my soapbox.
Someone has opened a See Click Fix case on this one. Anyone out there who follows See Click Fix, you should vote on it. I have no clue if this link will work.
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/2084216?poi_token=b0d33c8335a2862b86debd980f55e4ab34f905e4&task=vote&utm_campaign=poi-notice-email&utm_content=issue-vote-button&utm_medium=email&utm_source=poi-email&utm_term=vote
My goose (Raafer) had lead poisoining from an old table he nibbled on. The treatment was the same as for a small child.
One year of shots and physical therapy and I was able to get him back to where he could walk unassisted. He suffered permanent brain and neuro damage. He never regained complete control of his muscles.
If anyone is thinking that people are over reacting to this, I can assure you they are not!
Ma be the block should chip in to get this guy one of those plastic flexi-tube garbage chutes that you’re supposed to use for throwing debris down like this? In all likelihood the demo work will be done by the time any government agency gets around to doing anything about it. Maybe pursue the government route at the same time as getting him the right chute to take care of the immediate problem but also make sure that the owner doesn’t keep doing this in the future.
Officer Ford is the environmental officer at the police department. He could likely get the ball rolling on addressing this. Perhaps the original poster could give him a call.
Im not saying people are over reacting, but like many other issues on the hill many people are making HUGE assumptions based on the assumption that this is lead dust? Is there any validity to this or is it just an assumption??
Also, there is a HIGH, HIGH likelyhood that every house in the hill (unless new construction) has lead somewhere in it or hiddin in the walls. Lead paint was used up until it was banned in 1978 because it held up a lot better than waterbased/latex or oil based paint.
Also, what about asbestos or black mold?
I tried to post this once before but it apparently did not take so trying again.
In 2011 when the building at 401 N 27th was cited for exterior lead paint (which is still tagged for such and never completely resolved), this person was in charge but not sure if she still is? Possibly someone at the numbers can help?
Nancy K. Van Voorhis, MT (ASCP), M.P.H.
Healthy Homes Specialist NEHA, NCHH
Director, Lead Safe Virginia Program
Virginia Department of Health
109 Governor St. 5th Floor West
Richmond VA 23219
Phone: (804) 864-7694
FAX: (804) 864-7723
http://www.vahealth.org/leadsafe/
Toll free 877-668-7987
Neighbors of 711 are telling me that the city has confirmed that they are doing work without proper permits. My family owns rental property on this block as well and I was deeply concerned because we have several tenants with children. I believe CHAT also runs an after school tutoring program out of a home across the street. I also believe that they are renovating the property without proper zoning approvals
Most recent permits listed on city site for 711 Chimborazo show demolition permit has expired:
B15033002 Expired 711 Chimborazo Blvd Owner Demolition 3/30/2015 3/30/2015
So…in fairness, they appear to have active permits (the permit inquiry site routinely can’t find active permits), but it is unclear what the owner plans to do with the building. As the building has been vacant for several years and, as built, is a non-conforming use, they should not be able to get permits to renovate without BZA – approval, unless they intend to convert it to a permitted use.
Permit use type R2B indicates that they plan to keep it as multifamily, so it is unclear how they got the permits/why the city actually issued them without BZA approval.
Dean @13 I agree with you that there is a lot of overaction on the Hill, however, not in this case. Assuming that this house is full of lead is a very logical, accurate assumption to make simply based on the age of the building.
As for other contaminates, I found lots of horse hair in my plaster walls
What was the outcome of this? How fickle we are. Something as earthshattering as this story to some, is forgotten in a day when something else comes along. Does that lessen the need for closure on the older (this) issue? How will anything get done if everyone just drops problems like they are dirty towels and let someone else wash them … or as they use to say “yesterday’s mashed potatoes”?