Life in Mount Vernon Square: Vacant Property Meeting

"OTR was automatically retaining old Class 3 tax exemptions despite receiving updated listings from DCRA. (This explains why only 11 properties were changed to the higher rate this year. And why Sendar's Smelly Whore Cafe is still inexplicably exempted after 10 years.) This is being corrected.
OTR is...er...in the process of some personnel changes."

Strangely, OTR was not included in the meeting. Great work by the community, i.e., Si, Brian, David, and everyone else that contributed! Keep up the pressure.

619 14th Street, NW

Formerly the National Bank of Washington
Not listed in OTR's online tax records.
Listed as vacant by DCRA in 2004.
Square 253 lot 67

DC Code 42-3131.06. Registration of vacant buildings

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the owner of a vacant building shall maintain the building in compliance with the requirements of § 42-3131.12 and, within 30 days after it becomes a vacant building, register the building with the Mayor, and pay the registration fee. The Mayor, in his sole discretion, may extend the time for good cause.

(b) A vacant building shall not be subject to the registration and fee requirements if it is:

(1) Owned by the government of the United States or its instrumentalities;

(2) Owned by a foreign government or its instrumentalities;

(3) Under construction or undergoing rehabilitation, renovation, or repair, and if there is a valid building permit that was issued within 60 days of the required registration date; provided, that the scope of the permit is not limited to electrical or plumbing work; provided further, that this exemption shall not exceed one year from the date of issuance of the first building permit for rehabilitation, renovation or repair;

(4) In compliance with the requirements of § 42-3131.12 and the housing regulations of the District of Columbia and the owner or his agent has been actively seeking to rent or sell it; provided, that the time period for sale or rent shall not exceed one year from the initial listing, offer, or advertisement of sale, or 90 days from the initial listing, offer, or advertisement to rent; or

(5) Exempted by the Mayor, in his or her sole discretion, for good cause.

(c) If a vacant building is owned by the District of Columbia or its instrumentalities, it shall be subject to the registration requirements in subsection (a) of this section and the maintenance requirements in § 42-3131.12, but shall not be subject to the fee requirements under subsection (a) of this section or the fines and penalties collected under § 42-3131.10.

(d) If a present interest in a vacant building registered under this chapter is transferred or otherwise conveyed, a deed shall not be recorded by the Recorder of Deeds until a new registration is filed with the Mayor and the applicable fees are paid.

(e) If the name or address of an owner of a vacant building changes for any reason other than by transfer or conveyance, the change shall be reported to the Mayor in writing within 30 days.

Eye Opening World Class Design Coming to Mt Vernon Sq?

"Development is no doubt a good thing. But I think the 'making things too nice' comment reflects the nature of the type of development taking place. What we constantly see are very large developments by well-connected 'developers'. What we do not see are small businesses renovating existing structures that they will occupy. Real estate prices (and assessments) have gone up so much that only large developments are financially possible. Instead of forcing owners to put properties to immediate good use, DC has allowed owners/speculators to sit on vacant property and wait for their big payday. This is not investment; it is urban strip mining."
My comment on ANC2C02 Forum

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."