Monday, April 14, 2008

WBJ: DC Vacant Property List to Quadruple

The Washington Business Journal reports on the surge in properties added to the vacant property list.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow. Napa 1015 is on the vacant list and they have been open for a while. Is it because they are closed during the day?

Chris said...

It is unclear from the article if the new higher tax rate ($10/$100) is for all vacant properties or just commercial properties. Hopefully this applies to them all - I personally am tired of the properties that have sat vacant for decades, boarded up at best but still a haven for rats and wind-swept garbage.

Anonymous said...

No, it's because the District government is incredibly slow at not only adding places to the list, but removing them as well.

Anonymous said...

Like most things that dc gov does this list and its taxation is filled with errors caused by inept workers and a system that could care less if it got anything right. I have lived in my building for two years and I just got taxed as a vacant propety. Several other buildings on H st Ne that are listed are also not vacant. DC workers blow and should be ashamed of themselves. If I hear a voicemail that says, "I will get back to you within 24hrs or the next business day" I will puke because it is always a lie. Stop insulting us with this kind of anti civil service.

Anonymous said...

Agree with the previous posts. After having spent a good deal of time perusing through the OTR real property tax assessment and sales database, this scientist must also conclude that the system is replete with erroneous information. At least they've got me listed as the owner of my property. In some test cases that I did, they didn't even have that correct -- can it really take 2+ years to record a deed? What the hell do you pay those lovely settlement fees for anyway? Grrr.

Anonymous said...

Now if only they would finally tax my neighbor appropriately. The rat infested, blighted. boarded up piece of crap house has been vacant since 2004, I've reported it about 10 times and they still enjoy the cheap taxes of an occupied house. What's worse is they didn't turn off their utilities so when a pipe burst two winters ago in their basement, my finished basement flooded from water seeping in. I had to call an emergency plumber to turn their water off. When I asked for payment for the plumbing bill, they insisted that their utilities were turned off. When I presented them with evidence that they had been paying the water bill (because they really didn't turn off utilities) they told me to F off. They rationalized that I called the plumber so the bill was my responsibility. Somehow these crap heads operate under a different set of rules then the rest of us. Does anyone know how I can get them included on a vacant property list?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous:

Take them to small claims court to get your plumber bill paid. That's probably the only way to get them to pay attention.

Anonymous said...

ANON. 11:09
You may call 202-442-4332 and request they be added to the list. Hope this works and YES take them to small claims court!

Anonymous said...

I was sent the wrong property tax bill listing my house as vacant, even though I have been living in it since I bought it a few months ago. I believe I have finally gotten DCRA and OTR to correct the situation. What really irks me is that my block has at least 4 or 5 vacant houses, and they are not listed as vacant. I might have to report them, myself, as they are kind of shabby and attract litterers. They need some pressure to sell or improve the property. Hey, a crazy bill like I received should do it, I hope.

Anonymous said...

Hillman, et al, I would take them to small claims court, but the amount of time, the headache, the hassle, time off work and the puke factor (these low lifes next door literally make me sick to my stomach when I talk to them)prevents me from doing that. I really should try to make friends with them because maybe they can show me how I can completely work the system. I'm clearly not doing something right. Their property taxes have actually gone down over the years while mine have gone up.

Anonymous said...

"maybe they can show me how I can completely work the system."

That's the spirit: Ask em if they can set you up with a set of dealer tags....

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have any insight on whether the tax hike would even include residential? Unfortunately, I have serious doubt the tax hike would include the residential properties.

I must coment on the amount of anger some posters are displaying. Unfortunate circumstances, but one has to expect a few horror stories in a "transitional" neighborhood.

6th and L

Anonymous said...

Anonymous: Regarding your comment "but one has to expect a few horror stories in a "transitional" neighborhood" - believe me it's a lot easier to accept a horror story in a transitional neighborhood when it's not affecting you. When I read other people's horror stories on listserv and blogs, I usually sit back like a smug *uck and think they should just get down and get cool with the 'hood. And then when my basement floods because of an undertaxed abandoned property, I'm not such a smug *uck anymore. I'm sure you'll have your transitional moment too when you go from smug *uck to unsmug *uck - it'll be when you're actually taking the brunt of a circumstance characteristic of transitional neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

This topic hits really close to home for me because I live nice and snug between 2 vacant houses. As a matter of fact, my house is the only one occupied on my side of the block. I contacted DCRA to have them taxed at the higher rate, but shortly afterward, both houses went up for sale. It’s been over a year now . I guess the one nice thing is that it's like living in a detached house...I could blast my music all I want and no one would ever complain.

Anonymous said...

anon 7:18, apparently you read way too much into my post. I encountered some hick ups myself and I am certain I will live through a horror story myself. However, I am happy were I live and wouldn't change it. I believe it is important to be active in the community to not only stand up for what is important to you, but what is important to your neighbors.

Anonymous said...

Not to diminish anyone's plight, but moving into a transitional neighborhood does come with downfalls. Having lived through it, I cannot underscore enough the importance of community and civic involvement.