April 14, 2008
neighbor vs neighbor
In response to renewed interest in both 401 North 27th Street and the apparently stalled Church Hill Market, I went out on Sunday to get more recent photos of each. While out, I ran into a woman claiming to own one of the other empty commercial properties at 27th and Marshall Streets; she would not give me her name, but according to the city property records that would make her Sandra Murray (and thus sister to Patrick Murray, the owner of 401).
The woman was prickly about any ongoing discussion of the condition of the buildings. Blaming the meddling of neighbors for the current status of the former laundry at 401 North 27th Street, she said that except for their interference “the building would have been finished two years ago”. When asked if the building was in danger of being demolished, she said that while the city was not going to take down the building, that the owner himself might have it taken down.
I don’t want to step into this too deep, I don’t know enough of the story to really understand what is going on here. All I can say is that, as a resident of the general area, it pains me to see the neighborhood’s architectural heritage falling into rubble whether it is this prominent and historic commercial building or a forgotten little house hard up against the projects.
What a bunch of bull! This owner is purposely being difficult because people in the neighborhood have expressed their frustration with the condition of the buildings. I would like for her to expressly describe how the neighbors have hindered her progress.
Eyesore Is Piece Of Richmond History (wric/abc8 4/19)
Speaking of neighbors …. what ever happened to the women’s social group that met on a regular bases a couple of years ago. I only had the opportunity to go once but thought it was great. Has anything taken it’s place?
Glad you posted a link to the TV-8 news story. In fact, it was my comments on this board that got the reporter interested but she could not locate me to interview (I was still at work).
Sandra Murray is full of B.S. and won’t even give the Historic Richmond Foundation who are interested in purchasing the building much info either. Patrick told them to go through Sandra for information.
Yeah, Patrick would have finished the building 2 years ago bypassing city codes and inspections but doing it legit is a problem for him. I have documented emails from various people in the city who told me actually what happened and he was given several chances in the past to bring the building up to code as well as present blueprints on what he will do but as of yet hasn’t and is on the verge of going to court.
The city has sidetracked demolishing the building until either Murray does something or sells to the HRF. It is falling apart day by day and with each rain, gets worse.
I can’t still help but feel that Murray is hoping to tear it down - waiting and keeping everyone at bay until it get to that point and can sell off the land or build something “new” there looking out of place in the neighborhood.
I will keep everyone up to date here but that is where everything stands for now.
Eric Huffstutler
(the meddler - and proud of it!)
Also, noticed yesterday and this morning that the NW corner of the building seen in the last photo above, is getting precariously unstable. Again, with each rain that corner seems to sink causing it to twist and buckle. The crack has opened up even more and new pieces falling out. One place on the crack you can see the Coke machine inside the building through it! But also on the same “side” of the building are cracks running the entire height of the building which can be seen staring to separate and causing the roof to wrinkle and buckle with pieces falling out of the roof. Not a good situation and in need of immediate stabilization repairs!
Eric
Back in November 2006, Murray rebuilt the back brick wall of the building that had collapsed. It was a positive start and earnest in his attempt to replicate the original but now see that part of it has now also collapsed towards the NE corner between 401 and 403. Not very good work if this has happened already! And was probably part of what Sandra mentioned about Patrick’s attempt 2 years ago?
Fact is that he got in way over his head… the building is old, older than most, and needs special attention towards repairs and extra deep pockets which apparently he does not have. Tax shelter? It won’t be long in this accelerated crumbling state. He should have sold out years ago and let someone else save and restore this building rather than sit on it until near demolition. Obviously he is not appreciative of historic buildings!
What gets me is that he bought the building in 2004 but waited until 2006 to start assessing damages for reconstruction. Some of his earlier permits looked as though he wanted to put those ratty barber shops that are currently in smaller delapodated linked buildings along Marshall Street into this building. Then when the wall was being rebuilt, the construction workers mentioned him putting a Laundromat back in. Either way, he waited 2 years to do anything with the building after purchasing it, it was out of code then, and once he started tearing down walls and seeing just what shape the foundation of this building is in, only worked a minimum on it for a week or two and then disappear for months - cycling this way for the next 3 years. He has had PLENTY of opportunity to do something and work with the city.
Sandra’s comments about Patrick may have to tear it down though the city doesn’t, makes me believe he will continue dragging his feet on this until it “is” necessary, what he most likely wants. I am waiting on a reply from the Codes Office to get their latest take on this situation that seems to be moving very slowly.
Eric
Eric, thank you for your diligence in this. I have followed your comments and I very much appreciate your time and effort.
Thanks Anonymous. I “think” I know who you are :-) Just keep looking here as well as the thread about 401 for updates.
Glad John started this one though it can be misleading (hard to find by others) not citing 401 in the subject title.
Eric
I’ve added a “401 North 27th” tag for this topic. Any future posts about this location will get tagged with this, making it possible to lump them all together in one place. You can bookmark this link if the topic/location is of ongoing interest to you.
Not sure what was happening yesterday (Saturday, 4/26/2008)but there were 2 cars that pulled up in front of our house with men in suits and a woman, who walked the block looking and taking pictures of the 401 building and looking at our house. Not sure what was going on? Developer? Tag looked out of state. I’ll try and find out.
Eric
Just posting an update.
The HRF says that the Murray’s are now not speaking to them. They are waiting on the city but at the same time talking to a contractor.
I did hear from my source at the Code Enforcement Division who said that Patrick Murray was issued a Spot Blight letter under legislation and Code of Virginia 36-49.1.1 last week and given 30 days to make changes or loose the property. We have to wait and see now on that one unless something changes before that?
Not that I saw everyone Saturday but know those I did see were not Patrick but possibly did see Sandra talking to them? I was at a distance looking through a window.
There was supposed to have also been some exposure on Channel 12 about the building as well - must have missed that one? I know Channel 8’s was due to my big mouth here :-)
Eric
Latest update is that the Spot Blight time is running out on June 5th for Patrick Murray to respond. So far he hasn’t.
Apparently there was a contractor recently interested in this building but was turned down as well as HRF request to send a contractor out to do their own evaluation for costs of restoration. Not sure what his game plan is but playing hardball will not get him anywhere. If he does not reply with legitimate plans by June 5th, then the case will go to the Planning Commission and that could take a month and then to City Council for sale which could tack on yet another month.
I am afraid with the movement of the building’s walls due to the heavy rains and now upcoming hurricane season, it may not be able to take much more. And he used the wrong kind of mortar for the back wall he “repaired” 2 years ago which is why bricks are now falling out.
Yet legal channels have to be followed towards the owner until all has been exhausted.
I do understand he has a list of violations and owes money to his interest is not on the front burner right now and feel like the city will take it over but won’t be overnight.
Eric
Eric, yes a contractor did make a bid but Patrick did not think it was enough money. The problem is that neither Patrick or Sandra seem to have the funds to restore this building - why not just sell it to someone who does and will save it? I have to say, though, at this stage of the game, is it worth saving? Eric, you seem to know much about structure, etc. - do you think that it may not be able to be saved?
Is it possible that the owners won’t sell to white people? The owners are black. The previous owner (”Four Corners” Charlie) was also black and wouldn’t sell any of his properties to white people.
This is a fairly common occurrence up hear in Church Hill, blacks not selling to whites. I suppose it’s understandable considering the course of history. It’s also common for blacks to keep their properties and hand them down from generation to generation. They would rather the property crumble to dust than to hand it over to someone else, especially white people.
As far as salvaging… I am not really sure? I truly hope it is but again there will need to be a LOT of work done in every aspect of construction to save this building on historic merits alone. If it was less than 100 years old then I would have my doubts and tear it down. But being the oldest commercial building in Richmond, it is worth a chance for someone with adequate funds like the Historic Richmond Foundation. Not much could go in the site, possibly a museum for Church Hill (I could be curator) :-)
Eric
NEWS FLASH…
I heard through the grapevine that Patrick Murray may have sold this building. To whom… I am trying to find out now but from what I gather it is not an “improvement” over the current condition. Stay Tuned…
Eric
PS… I did see some activity at the old restaurant building across from 401 this past weekend. More sealing the building up and saw something I haven’t see in a long time and thought odd. Charlie (Johnson) was sitting in front of it. If this is no longer his property, why would he squat outside? strange.
Eric
OK… here is the scoop. So far if there is an ownership chance it hasn’t been recorded yet but did talk to someone who seems to know what is happening. That they offered to buy the building from Patrick Murray but wanted to also buy 325 as well but he would not do that. Seems 325 N 27th is also in sad shape and the roof is imploding. They also offered to buy Charlie Johnson’s last building but he refused and will “only” sell to Sandra Murray!
That Patrick Murray sold to a relative / cousin or in-law within the past 2-3 weeks for 200k.
The Murrays know they don’t have the knowledge or resources to fix the building up and refuse to find out about historical funding. That they bought the property as an investment and just keeping it in the family dragging it out even longer until someone comes along and offers big bucks for it down the line.
What happens now??? Will keep you informed. I also heard that the city can do something if they wanted to about the building but just jerking about also on it for over a year.
Eric
une 5th update…
I spoke with Art Dahlberg of DCD and he said he had spoken with the person who may not be the new owner (did not indicate he was) but the brother-in-law and person taking over the implementation of moving forward with renovating the building. They only have until tomorrow to pull it all together or the city will take its next step. Said “Mr. York” had brought in a 3 strand contract to show (whatever that means?) and now waiting for it all but so far nothing. The way Mr. Dahlberg spoke sounded very Open Ended to me and I was not satisfied with our conversation.
He did mention that he will be watching the renovation and making sure they follow CAR guidelines but as a private property owner can’t “make” them do anything other than bring the building up to code. I think simply bringing it up to code won’t help the aesthetics or gentrify the neighborhood and we will be back to base one in 2004.
Eric
June 24th update…
York construction aka Walter S. York III (the brother-in-law of Patrick Murray) “fixed” - if you call it that, the NW corner that was twisting and bulging and cracked wide open last week. The Codes Department said no matter what they do now to the building the process of it going through the Planning Commission stage won’t stop so their efforts are in vain.
Also it has been confirmed that the foreclosure notice seen in last Saturday and Monday’s paper has been cancelled per the attorney handling the lien but no explanation as to why.
Eric
July 22nd Updates
This past Sunday there were 2 pickup trucks and a few workers inside the building but nothing visible was done. Suspect that they did something to the rotten wooden rear section as it is looking a bit unstable lately again.
There has been also new developments concerning the building across the street at 325 N 27th owned by Sandra Murray. The old “27th street Inn” neon sign was removed a couple of weeks ago because it was breaking apart the facade of the building and dangerous but no permit was issued. And there has been other activities going on through the back door of the building.
She has been cited with 4 different violations and on the General District Court - Criminal dockets for 7/24/2008 at 1:30PM all for failure to maintain the building(s) for various reasons.
GC08005831-00 through GC08005834-00
Eric