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Here is John's letter after Claude Cooper stood Winnie and him up. If you think this is tough, you should have seen the first draft.
1508 Avondale Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23227
November 11, 1998BY FACSIMILE: 780-7987
Connie Bawcum
Acting City Manager
Room 201
900 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219RE: 1603 Claremont Avenue
Dear Ms. Bawcum:
Capt. Winnie Cobb of the Bellevue Security Patrol and I had an appointment at 3:00 p.m. today with Building Commissioner Claude Cooper. We appeared at City Hall on the hour, but Mr. Cooper was in a meeting, and he remained in that condition. Finding nothing to do downtown, we finally came home. Ms. Cobb has a tender knee, and I particularly regret taking her away from her home for nothing.
We had wished to speak to Mr. Cooper about the nuisance on this property.
I had complained to Mr. Cooper’s people about the property in August. When I called to follow up, Mr. Farrell of the Code Enforcement staff refused to discuss the matter, and told me to file a Freedom of Information Act Request.
The product of that request was shocking. The City has cited the property for trash, weeds, and abandoned cars five or six times since 1990. They have towed abandoned vehicles twice, and sent a City crew to clean weeds out of the alley once. They are preparing to tow and clean weeds again.
Despite the half dozen citations by the environmental people, the Code Enforcement people did not look at the place until one of my neighbors complained in June, 1996. The City then cited on 6/21/96 (peeling paint; roof & downspout in disrepair), took it to court, and got an order on 8/24/96. The owner did not show cause as ordered by 10/22/96. An inspection on 3/4/97 showed that the problem still was not fixed.
Then the City continued to do exactly nothing until August, 1998, when I complained about the condition of the property. On August 12 the City closed its "Action File," marked it "Status: complied," and opened a new "Action File." They inspected again on 8/20/98 (the file calls it an "initial visit"), and cited on 9/29/98 for peeling paint, gutters & downspouts in disrepair.
This would be a fine comedy if my tax money were not paying for it, and if 1603 Claremont were in somebody else’s neighborhood.
This property is a nuisance. It is depressing property values in my quiet neighborhood, and attracting vermin, both human and otherwise. I would be grateful for any help you can provide in getting this condition abated.
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely,
John R. Butcher
cc: Winnie Cobb
Chuck Epes (by email)
Holly Anna Jones (by email)
Claude Cooper (780-6948)
Mr. Cooper replied:
Last updated 02/24/02
Please send questions or comments to John Butcher