Silverman Unveils New Program to Make Neighborhoods Safer

"Ward 2 Candidate Cary Silverman proposed a new city program today that would build neighborhood safety by helping more of the District's police officers, firefighters, and public school teachers to live in the local neighborhoods. Silverman's plan would use one hundred District-owned vacant houses and several hundred vacant lots to provide affordable housing opportunities to those who are vital to the District's safety and education."

The Concerned Citizens of Oakwood Street

June 23, 2008

Good Afternoon,

Has there been any follow up on our June 9th email? Our community can not keep relying on MPD to resolve all the problems created by having these vacant and/or nuisance properties in our community. If these buildings would be abated it would improve our community and make the residents safer.

We are pleading for assistance and swift action.

Best regards,

The Concerned Citizens of Oakwood Street

To:

Linda Argo, Director

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs

Malcolm Avant, Manager of Vacant Properties

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs

Phillip Pugh, Housting Inspections Program Manager

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs

Roger Lovett, Ward 8 Inspections and Compliance Supervisor

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs

Stephen Cordi, Deputy Chief Financial Officer

Office of Tax & Revenue

Richie McKeithen, Director of Real Property Tax Administration

Office of Tax & Revenue

David Fitzgibbon, Chief Appraiser

Office of Tax & Revenue

Cc:

Diane Groomes,Asst Chief of Police

MPD

Joel Maupin, Commander 7D

MPD

Robert Nixon, Community Outreach Specialist

US Attorney General's Office

Isha Foster Lee, Ward 8 Outreach and Service Specialist

Mayor'sOffice of Community Relations & Services

Benjamin C. Miller, Director of Audits and Compliance

DC Housing Authority

6412 Barnaby Street, NW

Ed,

Here's my favorite vacant property, 6412 Barnaby St, NW 20015. It's
just down the street from my place on Utah Ave. It went to a tax sale
last July, but DC doesn't record a sale or no owner.

Best regards,
J. H.

4334 Klingle Street, NW

4334 Klingle Street, N.W. has been vacant since 2001. The owner moved out then ostensibly to begin renovation/expansion of the house. The house has been in a state of partial renovation since that time. For at least the last two years, the house has had no siding and has been covered only by tar paper. For a long period the roof was covered by a blue tarp and had no shingles. The blue tarp remains on the rear to cover an open window. Much of the rear yard is covered with weeds, where not eroded from lack of proper drainage, and has construction material (untouched in years) sitting around.

Despite being vacant and being listed on the city's vacant property list since at least 2004, the owner is currently receiving the senior citizen homestead deduction. From tax records, it appears that the city rescinded its assessment of the vacant property tax rate against the property in 2008 and has retroactively credited the owner for overpayment of taxes for tax years 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Great project you're carrying on!

A.