Charlottesville’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services (NDS) continues to work with a contractor who demolished a house in late April at 521 Park Plaza in the city’s North Downtown neighborhood without specific permission.
“Building Inspections put a stop to the work, explained to the contractor what needed to be done, and we are now waiting for the building permit amendment documents which will change the scope of the original work that was to be done,” said Afton Schneider, the city’s director of communications and public engagement.
In August, a couple from Charlotte, North Carolina, purchased the 1,434 square foot house for $705,000. Benjamin Yorker works in real estate development and is a graduate of the University of Virginia. Yorker has not returned requests for comment.
On March 19, NDS issued a building permit for a remodel at 521 Park Plaza, a two bedroom house listed as being 1.5 stories tall. The cost of construction was valued at $550,000.
On April 25, NDS issued a residential plumbing permit with the work valued at $6,000. The description of work is listed as “new plumbing for total remodel of existing structure.”
On April 26, NDS issued a stop work order after an inspector arrived on the side to find the house in the midst of demolition. Photos in the city’s land use application portal clearly show work was underway to remove the walls, floors, insulation, and everything that made up the house.
Schneider said electricity was disconnected before the house was torn down.
“Stop Work Orders are common to be issued by the department when construction is found to be happening without permits or outside of the scope for issued permits,” Schneider said. “This Stop Work Order was a simple case where the contractor went beyond the description of the issued building permit.”
The inspector wrote on the Stop Work Order form that the demolition violated Section 108.1 of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. (read the code)
On April 29, a representative of the property owner filed a partial residential demolition permit at an estimated cost of $8,500. A demolition fee of $134.50 was charged as well $12.69 in fees and surcharges.
A description of the work states “demolition to the first floor system”
Schneider said the property owner has complied with NDS and paid the appropriate fine and the situation is no longer considered to be in a state of violation.
“Once the amendment documents have been submitted, reviewed, and approved by us, the Contractor will be in complete compliance and can continue with what was on the building permit,” Schneider said.
NDS continues to review demolition permits filed for 1105 Grove Street, 705 Druid Avenue, and 612 Harris Road.
(this story updates a previous one written for C-Ville Weekly)
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