This house sits at 21st and Franklin, at the base of Richmond Hill and, like the Jewish Cemetery, unique amidst the growing density of apartments. Already in poor condition, it took a new beating during the recent storms.
Built circa 1880, 2101 – 2101 ½ East Franklin Street is an Italianate Double house in the Shockoe Valley/ Tobacco Row Historic District. The house has been owned by Twenty One O One East Franklin Street Associates since 1986 (OVER 25 YEARS!). A rehab tax credit application was applied for in 2007.
19 comments
the scaffolding is a good sign. looks as if restoration–in some form–may be the current intent. i can’t recall if the scaffolding was up before the storms; there are so many structures in varying states of decay/rehab, that it’s hard to stay up-to-date on all of them.
the scaffolding has been up for over year, if not more. it gives the appearance of work being done, but no work has been done. i wonder if there is a kind of scaffolding i can set up in my cubical at work that gives the same appearance.
True, the scaffolding has been there prior to the storm damage. I pass by this building every work day coming home and all I have seen is someone gutting what was inside – roof, floor, tree growth inside, etc… and that is it. I am sure the elusive Twenty One O One is avoiding fixing it up but sure would like to know the actual owner’s names!
The scaffolding was in place when I moved to the Hill over three years ago. This is a classic example of our city government’s need to be empowered to enforce action when owners choose neglect over upkeep.
Not that much scaffolding. I have a picture I took of the house on June 26 the day after the storm knocked that hole into it. They also cut down that empress tree inside. I take it as a good sign.
I am sure they only cleaned up the tree inside because it was in the way of cleaning up what caved in on and around it. What has been done is by city code violation to make the building safe but not being restored and they have a ways to go shoring the walls up.
For some reason, this building did not have any code violations. This is why it’s so important for our code enforcement to be proactive, so property owners are more willing to make the fix before things turn into this…
I agree with Morgan. They are in violation, but if you don’t report it, they don’t enforce it. The property maintenance inspector for the city can site you and put a lean on your property just for having weeds over 12″ if you don’t comply in a given amount of time. I saw a letter on that building across from Alamo that stated just that. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Brett #8 if thats the case, there are numerous properties in CH that need to be reported.
I walk by this building everyday and can’t stand the fact that the owners just let it decay. It hasn’t had a roof for years and my guess is as long as it was boarded up and the grass kept below 12″ it was in conformance. Please be wary of walking directly next to this as it is not structurally sound by any imagination. People are still parking their cars and walking their dogs directly adjacent to it but sooner or later it’ll come down, hopefully not injuring anyone. Perhaps there are plans to rehab the property and that’s what’s causing the delay…after all, C.A.R. would have to approve infilling the hole with vinyl siding.
Bilder’s next purchase?
Per the city’s web site, a building permit for this address was issued on July 17, 2012: “Proposed Work: Refur To Attached Engineering Report” Yes, it really says ‘refur.’
Alex.. LMAO.
OK, why do people have to “report” issues instead of the city driving around and cite violations seen and follow-up on abandoned properties?
Any takers as to who the person or perosns names are that own this building?
And why does someone have to report it first to the city?
Is there any way to see online what the citation history is for a given property?
Eric #14, the city does not have building inspectors who have the time to just drive around the city looking for property with defects. They operate on the principle of someone calls it in and then they investigate.
Brett #15, I’m curious too so if you find out please post.
A general search for “Twenty One O One East Franklin Street Associates” brings up no new information about this property. I’m very curious about who owns a vacant building for so long and lets it deteriorate like this.
Searching for the PO address listed for “Twenty One O One East Franklin Street Associates” (PO Box 26427 RVA 23260) turns up hits indicating that “Drummond Construction” shares this mailing address.
A poke at the city’s Permits & Inspections database turns up an expired building permit from 2009 and a pending permit from 7/13/2012, both issued to Drummond Construction.
Is anything going on with pushing to fix this building? It still sits like it does since the earthquake.
Does anyone know what is and/or what will be done with this property? It remained in ruins after the earthquake and only a few months back the gaping hole fixed yet the scaffolding remains outside and no sign of it being finished off and rented or sold as a residence?