to a year in jail.
Gregory A. Lukanuski, assistant city attorney, said a task force of city
officials was recently formed to crack down on a list of landlords the city
considers its most troublesome, based on their history of code violations.
Davis was at the top of the list.
"We found any city [code enforcement] agency that can in any way
summons someone to court," Lukanuski said.
Davis was upbeat about his latest run-in over his rental properties.
He explained the code violations were a natural result of owning a large
number of properties. "It takes time to do it," he said of repairs.
"The city again has been more than kind."
Davis blamed his tenants and others for some of the problems. He said
people often dump trash on his properties and he cleans them up as soon as he
finds out about it.
But often, "the tenants won't tell you something's wrong. They'll call
the building inspector. . . . This is just a part of being a property
owner."
The city task force includes representatives of the city attorney's office,
real estate office, the Fire Department, and the Department of Community
Development offices of Building Maintenance Code Enforcement and Zoning
Administration.
Michael Dodson, real estate intern, said the city went so far as to try to
get the State Corporation Commission and state Office of Consumer Affairs to
join in the task force crackdown. He said those attempts didn't work out.
Instead, the task force did everything it could to file violation notices
against Davis, every corporation he is associated with and every other officer
or director associated with his corporations.
Records show Davis is involved as an owner or officer in at least seven
real estate corporations. Those corporations regularly trade properties back
and forth.
All the inspections were done in May.
Lukanuski said Davis is still liable for the violations on all of the
properties because he was the owner when they were inspected.
The Zoning Administration office issued six "final notices of pending
prosecution" on July 7. Acting Zoning Administrator William C. Davidson
said that under the law, any multifamily home that changes ownership must get
a certificate of occupancy from the city.
If Davis doesn't do that by today, Davidson said, the city will order him
to General District Court.
"We identified that he owns a number of properties . . . and we never
really see him come in with the required permits," Davidson said. He
described Davis as "a savvy real estate person who should know
better."
Code Official Dyett B. Ellis said Davis was singled out "because he
has an awful lot of property and we have a lot of action against him."
Davis' properties have been cited for dozens of code violations over the
last decade. A Times-Dispatch investigation earlier this year revealed that
one property alone, a 23-unit apartment building at 320 W. Grace St., had been
cited on at least 15 occasions dating to 1991.
Ellis said he expects Davis to comply with the city rules. "Most of
the time when you're dealing with Bob . . . Bob kind of knows the tightrope to
walk.