The Blight on Idlewood Avenue: part 1
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- Winthrop Hall Residence
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- Graffiti and weeds have since been removed.
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- There is trash all over the block.
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- graffiti.
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- broken windows too.
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- Notice the “National Register of Historic Places” sign…
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- the weeds have grown into the gutter
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- down tree limb Idlewood Ave
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- Weeds!
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What can we do?
Call the City of Richmond’s Property Maintenance division at: 804.646.3908
Email Marty Jewell (our councilman) at: Marty.Jewell@Richmondgov.com
Call Marty Jewell at: 804.646.6050
And lets organize a clean-up!
try reporting to the city on-line
http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/citizensrequest/frmNewEntryType.asp
However, because of our current ecomonic situation the city will do nothing. I know this because I have reported the vacant property next to me (tall grass, the city has fined them and ordered a work citation, but the inspector told me not to hold by breath. He mentioned that the property will be cut by the city hopefully by the end of the year.
Who owns Winthrop Hall? Is it currently empty? Abandoned? What was it used for originally?
I’m more than glad to do my part and report it and add my voice to help pressure the city to get it cleaned up. I’d like to see it occupied and useful even more than that.
That’s the old John B. Cary Elementary School…
Here is the DHR application for the building if you’re into that kind of thing.
From the RPS history page:
developers like to turn old schools into apartments. this one is an unlikely candidate becasue its location is near public housing and these areas are usually looked at as undesirable to develop. They could always put a wall around it to make it more secure. Maybe a developer will risk it, or the govt. will come up with another excellent idea for the building.
How much SHOULD the City get for it?
Based on information from the last civic league meeting I attended, this building is currently owned by a company in Arizona which formerly operated an assisted living/nursing home in the building. The home was shut down due to lack of compliance with standards governing the care of the elderly residents. Apparently, it was a good thing that the home was shut down, but now the company is neglecting the care of the building and the property. Correct me if I’m wrong, anyone…
I’m glad to see this issue getting some attention. If only we had more information. Maybe that will come from the first person who gets our elected rep on the phone. The last rumor I heard was that it was going to be converted to a residential psychiatric hospital, perhaps by the same owners. But, that was a while back and thru the grapevine. What I do know is that someone is keeping the lights on at night… (roll Twilight Zone music).
Is the information from the City’s online property assessment tool accurate? This is what I got (links at the end):
OWNER: 2100 IDLEWOOD AVENUE, LP
PROPERTY CLASS DESCRIPTION: R Assisted Living (Licensed)
LAND USE DESCRIPTION: Institutional
LAND VALUE: 600,000
IMPROVEMENT VALUE: 5,825,000
TOTAL VALUE: 6,425,000
This property: http://bit.ly/OTL3e
Property search tool: http://bit.ly/Jkjse
Just to add the property was sold and given a special use permit to the owner of the nursing home. With the vacancy entering its 2nd year the special use permit is no longer valid. It is zoning reverts back (as does its use) to the neighborhood which is R-6.
Anyone want a really BIG new home. There are no plan of any kind pending with the City; you can check any building online now.
Citizen complaints can get the graffiti removed and property cleaned but it can stay like this for an enternity if the owner keeps paying his taxes.
Permit #Z07022809 Details
Permit Type: Zoning
Permit Status: Completed
Applied For: 2/28/2007
Issued: 4/13/2007
Applicant: Stephen J. Staats
Parcel Owner: 2100 Idlewood Avenue, Lp
Permit Address: 2100 Idlewood Ave
Richmond, VA 23220
Map Ref. Number: W0000938001 [Parcel Details]
Type Of Work: No Work Authorized
Cost Of Work: $0.00
Plans Reviewed?: No
Code Reviewed Under:
Year of Code:
Modifications Granted: N/A
Project Number:
Completed: 4/13/2007
Expires:
Business Trade Name: Stephen J. Staats
Contractor: Tenant
Contractor Address:
Contractor License: N/A
Contractor Phone:
Construction Type:
Proposed Building Use: NU – No Use Sanctioned, Vacant
Certificate of Occupancy: Not Required
Level of Renovation:
Sprinklered: N/A
Modifications:
Proposed Work: Request For Zoning Confirmation Letter
Does anyone have a gas-powered weed-wacker that I could borrow to clean up the sidewalk?
If I had won the Mega Millions I might have considered making it into my personal castle- with solar on the roof, of course.
Forget about calling/emailing M Jewell – he does not respond to anything has been my experience. And no I do not vote for him at election time either. The only way to get the problem resolved is to continuously badger the City (mayor’s office)about the property – perhaps the property owner. It is an eye sore and getting worse. The building/property maybe historic but tear it down is an remedy and sell the land.
Nelson, you are right about Jewell, though I would like to see the building saved if possible.
Guys let me introduce you to google…
google:Stephen J. Staats — gets
http://www.vlshomes.com/brokers/good/aboutus.htm?executive=sstaats
Interesting… Stephen Staats used to be involved with Goodstein Development. They’re the ones that announced Centennial Tower downtown at 5th and Main, demoed most of the block, and then could not follow through.
I want to pass along that we might have some news coming on the site. I will pass it along but right now it is still being addressed.
I’m pleased to note that the property is currently being maintained and there have been workers around the building doing repairs for the past 3 weeks. Hopefully this means that there will soon be positive movement on the property.
[...] over the 2100 blocks of Idlewood and Grayland Avenues, is now up for sale. The unoccupied building has been deteriorating for months. The owner is Stephen J. Staats, a real estate developer who made headlines in 1997 when he bought [...]
Does anyone have any updates pertaining to this property? Is Stephen Staats still the listed owner of the property?