Group asks city government to help solve vacant properties issue

"The Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association pinpointed 100 vacant properties in the area bounded by New York Avenue Northwest to the south and N Street Northwest to the north, between First and Seventh streets. Of those, 71 were vacant buildings and 29 were empty lots."
Michael Meibauer
The Examiner
May 30, 2007

1000 M Street, NW

Vacant for 20-30 years.
First listed as vacant by DCRA on March 23 2002.
Was not listed as vacant when I reported it by fax to DCRA July 7 2004.
Owner currently listed is M Angelidou. Though no sale is recorded owners listed in the past were M Atasoy, Faik Tugberk, L Stamoul, Stamoul Angelidou. Note that M Atasoy owns 1002 M St.
Was receiving a senior citizen homestead deduction.
Provided OTR Class 3 office with Pepco bills to "prove" occupancy. Owners had turned on a lamp in front room.
Condemned in November 2005. At the time, trees were growing from the foundation, the rear part of the roof had collapsed, etc.
Released from condemnation March 28 2007 because exterior of building was brought up to code as required.
Building interior is still not habitable.
Receiving Class 3 exemption.
Has never paid Class 3 tax.
See also Restoration underway at 1000 M Street.
For examples of crime at this corner see Mugging 'round Mt. Vernon Sq.

1006 M Street, NW

Last "occupants" evicted by US Marshalls on August 7 2002.
Sold for $749,900 to Dan Scott Development LLC.
First listed as vacant by DCRA on June 23 2005.
Condemned on February 2 2006.
Sold again 10-11-06 for $1,934,425 to Dan Scott Development LLC.
Work finally started in May 2007.
Has asked the Condemnation Board for a 90 day extension. Next hearing is July 25 2007.
Receiving Class 3 exemption.

1002 M Street, NW

First listed as vacant by DCRA on March 23, 2002.
Owners are Muhtesem Atasoy and Paik Tugberk.
Condemnation Board sent property to enforcement on March 2, 2007 for lack of progress. The city may now hire someone to do the work and put a lean on the property for costs.
Was listed as Class 3 but now is Class 1 (7/2/07). Still Class 1 (12/1/07).
The property is on the tax sale list for $24,448 in taxes owed. See Tax Sale 2007.

District looking for vacant buildings

"Mayor Adrian Fenty on Thursday, his 100th day in office, said of DCRA's past performance with nuisance and abandoned properties, 'not being inspected enough, not getting abated quick enough is a big deal.' The new DCRA director, whom Fenty has yet to hire, 'will have to take care of that.'"
Michael Neibauer
DC Examiner
April 16, 2007

Homeowners have one more chance to make property tax claim

"An inspector general%u2019s audit released in March found thousands of ineligible property owners receiving the benefit, in part due to weak internal controls over the application process. The IG estimated the city lost between $1.1 million and $3.4 million in tax revenue in fiscal 2004 alone.
... Ward 2 D.C. Council Member Jack Evans, chairman of the finance and revenue committee, said most of the 4,000 probably deserve the benefit and “just didn’t send the letters back.""
Michael Neibauer
DC Examiner
July 14, 2006

Some homeowners could lose Homestead tax break

"About 8,000 homeowners, out of the 90,000 who receive the deduction, were first contacted earlier this year as part of the OTR audit. Each property owner sought had no car registered in D.C., no city driver's license, were not registered to vote in Washington and had not filed D.C. income taxes. 'We questioned whether or not that person would truly be domiciled in the District,' Skolnik said."
Michael Neibauer
DC Examiner
Dec 7, 2006

Off Seventh - My Chronicles of Shaw: Slum of the Week

"This week's SLUM OF THE WEEK property sits at the corners of 9th/Rhode Island/Q Streets NW.� According to picture number one the address is 819 Q Street, NW.� I have been told the individual that owns this property is also a business owner in Georgetown...stay tuned we will discuss shortly."
(Off Seventh has posting about this property for a while--Ed.)

Broken Windows Turns 25

"Twenty-five years ago, social scientist James Q. Wilson and criminologist (and Manhattan Institute senior fellow) George Kelling first introduced the phrase 'Broken Windows' into the public policy lexicon. In a pathbreaking Atlantic Monthly article, Wilson and Kelling pointed out that people were likelier to vandalize a building with one broken window than a building with none, since a broken window sends the message that nobody cares, encouraging vandals to act on their destructive impulses. Similarly, they suggested, if a community tolerates quality-of-life offenses, such as drug use and prostitution, it signals to all potential lawbreakers that it doesn't care what happens to it; more serious crime will soon result."
Charles Sahm
City Journal
Spring 2007

Notice of Public Hearing: Nuisance Properties Abatement Reform

Council of the District of Columbia
Committee on Finance and Revenue
Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs
Notice of Public Hearing
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004

COUNCILMEMBER JACK EVANS, CHAIRPERSON
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND REVENUE
AND
COUNCILMEMBER MARY CHEH, CHAIRPERSON
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

ANNOUNCE A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON

Bill 17-86, the “Nuisance Properties Abatement Reform
and Real Property Classification Amendment Act of 2007”

Thursday, May 24, 2007
10:00 a.m.
Room 412
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

On Thursday, May 24, 2007, Councilmember Jack Evans, Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Revenue, and Councilmember Mary Cheh, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs, will hold a joint public hearing on Bill 17-86, the “Nuisance Properties Abatement Reform and Real Property Classification Amendment Act of 2007.” Bill 17-86 is intended to make the nuisance property abatement program more efficient and effective by eliminating overlapping responsibilities of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Office of Tax and Revenue in the designation, registration, and assessment of vacant properties. The public hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

The Committees invite the public to testify or to submit written testimony, which will be made a part of the official record. Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should contact Aukima Benjamin, staff assistant to the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs, at 724-4902, or via e-mail at abenjamin@dccouncil.us. All witnesses will be permitted a maximum of five (5) minutes for oral presentation.

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted either to the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs, or to Ms. Cynthia Brock-Smith, Secretary to the Council, Room 5 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004. The record will close at the end of the business day on Thursday, June 7, 2007.