THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411040732
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
A gang of city inspectors swarmed over East Ocean View Thursday making pests of themselves to property owners.
The team slapped red violation stickers on broken-down cars. They handed out violation notices for broken windows, peeling paint or the occasional old washing machine left in a driveway. They poked into backyards and nosed around the sides of garages.
Eight inspectors were accompanied by a few civic leaders and City Councilman Randy Wright, who represents the area. The team, including zoning, building, health and solid waste inspectors, aimed to deliver a shock to this 15-block, bay-front section of Ocean View between 18th and 3rd Bay Streets.
The sweep was meant to encourage homeowners and landlords to keep up their property even when city inspectors aren't leaning over their shoulders.
If judged successful here, the program will be expanded to other neighborhoods, officials said.
It appeared to be having an effect Thursday.
On block after block, men were up on ladders with paint brushes or out repairing broken electrical boxes. The area looked better already, said one property manager.
``It makes you get off your butt,'' said Sam Hillegass, who manages 25 properties in the area. Wearing a red sweatshirt speckled with white paint, Hillegass was sawing wood to fix up a small bungalow off 18th Bay Street. ``Everybody on the street here has been out repairing things.''
This area of East Ocean View is west of the section the city will soon level for redevelopment. Just a few steps from the beach and ocean, it has its own rough charm. Small bungalows, brick apartment buildings and semi-luxury beach homes mix together under the shade of oaks. But many people rent here. So it's easy for both absentee landlords and tenants to neglect appearances and property upkeep, city officials say.
Not everyone Thursday appreciated the close supervision. Some believed officials were going to far.
William Self, a property owner in the 3300 block of East Ocean View Ave., smiled at first when a group of city inspectors circled around him in the courtyard of his apartment complex.
But he stopped smiling when Marcia Snyder, the city's environmental health supervisor, walked over and stuck a red violation sticker on Self's Ford diesel pickup. The truck looked fine. But its engine sat on the ground, covered with a tarp.
``How much time do I have to fix it,'' Self asked. He wore a white T-shirt and stood with his arms folded across his chest.
``72 hours,'' Snyder said.
``So what can I do?'' Self asked, his smile fading.
``You've got to find a commercial facility to house it,'' Snyder said.
``You're kidding,'' Self said.
``City code prohibits storing inoperative vehicles'' on residential property, Snyder said.
``Even if it's on my own property?'' Self asked.
Self walked stiffly away. Then he kicked gravel into the air.
``I don't see why I can't fix a car on my own property,'' Self said after the exchange. He owned another broken car in the courtyard that he said he would have to junk. ``They're just making me lose money.''
An inspector later said it was a shame to put heat on Self. He had fixed up a group of apartments that had once been in bad shape and was a good property owner.
The code enforcement program is officially a pilot program. Inspectors will return to this neighborhood in coming weeks and see whether violations have been fixed. Cars still parked illegally will be towed. Property owners who haven't made repairs will be taken to court, inspectors said.
By the end of the day, the team had spotted 69 health violations, including 57 nuisance vehicles. They also found 49 buildings in need of repairs and 24 different zoning violations. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
GARY C. KNAPP/
At top, city inspectors look around a property in East Ocean View
Thursday. Above, Johnny Helton, a city inspector, talks to Bob
Webster and an unidentified woman who rent property in the area.
At right is city inspector Andrea Moore.
by CNB