Fox 5 Investigates Abandoned Houses

"A News Edge investigation into one of DC's biggest eyesores, abandoned houses. Chances are you have seen them. You may even have one on your block. Some are vacant for years. And now they have turned into crime havens! So what, if anything, is being done about it? Fox 5's Maureen Umeh investigates."

Reform OTR Now

The Office of Tax and Revenue's Class 3 Office is obliged by law to collect the higher class 3 property tax (5%) for previous years properties have been vacant and to pursue cases of fraud. I believe the OTR hase been negligent of its duties.

Several weeks ago, I once again begged Steve Capello, supervisory assessor and manager of the Class 3 program, to investigate several vacant properties near my home. I am still waiting for a reply. 1000 M St NW has been vacant for over 20 years yet has never paid class 3 tax and in fact was receiving the senior citizen homestead deduction. 1002 M St NW was paying class 3 tax until their assessment went up last year and they somehow got an exemption. The house is going to enforcement by the Board of Condemnation and is on the tax sale list, yet it is still listed as class 1 (occupied). The developer that bought 1006 M ST NW waited at least a year before even applying for permits and did not pay the class 3 tax during that time.

OTR also does not investigate clear cases of fraud such as trumped-up Pepco bills used to claim occupancy. At 1000 M Street, the owner plugged in a lamp to generate a bill he could take to OTR and claim occupancy. The house has been vacant for over 20 years and, at the time, the rear of the house had no roof. When I brought this to OTR's attention, they promised to send a vacant property registration packet. Bob Worthington in the OTR Class 3 Office even protested, saying that the size of the bill indicates that someone must be living there.

Recently, Worthington informed me that he was unaware of there being any problem with fraud with the registration of vacant properties and that they rarely involve the OTR's investigative unit. Tonight, in an extensive investigative report, Fox 5 news found otherwise.

The city council should exercise oversight over the Office of Tax and Revenue to make sure that tax cheats are prosecuted.

1225 10th Street, NW

This row house is clearly a shell but is not listed as vacant.
Sold on 8-8-07 but sale price is not available.
Ellis Jackson lowered the assessed improvements to only $64,910 for 2008 from $70,050 for 2007.

UPDATE:  This building was torn down.  More about it here.

Task force tries to take back H Street - Examiner.com

"...a large number of shuttered storefronts appears to be choking the area’s vitality, making local business owners nervous that the neighborhood’s transformation will continue. Some believe the problem is speculators who have bought vacant buildings and don’t want to invest capital into them until they can be flipped for a profit.
...a task force created earlier this summer is attempting to put pressure on those speculators to either sell or develop the properties, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Alan Kimber said..."
Courtney Mabeus
The Examiner
Aug 16 2007

Fifth and Oh: Vacant Properties, con'd.

"I noticed yesterday that there's a Fire Department condemnation notice on the property at 1417 5th Street NW (pictured above). Apparently that doesn't mean too much except for requiring the owner to secure the property against unauthorized entry and vermin infestation. But at least it suggests that someone may be paying attention. This property is actually on the vacant properties list, but it's still listed as Class 1 residential rather than the Class 3 rate that's supposed to be applied to vacant properties. Best of all, according to the on-line data, it's getting the homestead deduction!"
DaddyFiveOh also excerpts his written statement for Mary Cheh's July 3 hearing.

ANC2C02 Forum - Ward 2 Core Team vs Vacant Properties in Shaw

"The word from Joe Martin is that Mayor Fenty has requested that officials from the Dept. of Consumer Regulatory Affairs, the US Attorney's Office, the Office of the Attorney General, MPD, the Dept. of Health, the Dept. of Mental Health, Fire/EMS, and the Dept. of Public Works take to the streets Aug. 1 and address vacant property issues along 9th Street."

renewshaw.com: Condemnations Yield More Parking and $200k for Shiloh

"Shiloh's latest Take Down the Signs Update triumphantly claims that as of July 22, 2007, campaign donations total $199,880.53. The update also reveals that Shiloh awaits a permit to dismantle the garage behind 1534 9th Street, which will, no doubt, make way for more church parking in the near future (does anyone know why this structure isn't also protected by the HPRB?)."

Other Government Agencies

These government offices should have an online presence but do not. Please feel free to contact them with your concerns.

DCRA Board of Condemnation of Insanitary Buildings
Hubert Johnson (202) 535-1837 [Good guy--Ed.]

DCRA Vacant Property Office
Allen Smith (202) 442-4332

OTR Class 3 Tax Office
Stephen Cappello (202) 442-6738
Bob Worthington (202) 442-6775

OTR Homestead Deduction Office
?

Nuisance Property Bill Eyed by Shaw and Logan Residents

"Ward 2 residents hoping for some action on the vacant or “nuisance” properties in their neighborhoods lined up on May 24 to testify at a DC Council hearing on the “Nuisance Properties Abatement Reform and Real Property Classification Amendment Act of 2007,” a bill introduced by Councilmembers Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3).

For residents of Shaw and Logan Circle, where vacant properties abound, many say the “broken window syndrome” and other crime and quality of life issues created by empty properties are chief among their concerns." [I regret missing this hearing. Sounds like the community was well represented.--Ed.]
DC North | June 2007 | Ward 2 News

In Shaw (now with more gentrification): U.G.L.Y. you ain't got no alibi

"...a house on the 1500 block of 3rd Street, NW...Another house that has seemingly sat vacant for years is at the corner of Marion and Q Sts NW...not a house but a business, is the Check 'n' Go or the rob people of their paycheck with usury fees. Note the top portions where windows have been busted in and out and the masonry"