Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vienna residents press council to address unfinished excavation at 50 Fifth Street
Summary
Residents told the Vienna City Council an abandoned excavation next to a home is filling with water, attracting children and pests; city officials say code enforcement and legal staff are pursuing remedial steps but warned the remedy may take weeks or months.
Christina Nestor, a Vienna resident, told the Vienna City Council she is concerned about an unfinished construction site next to her home at 50 Fifth Street that stopped progressing about four years ago and now contains standing water and construction debris.
"The excavated area is now filling with stacks of water, which could pose a risk for mosquitoes and other pests," Nestor said during the council's public forum. "Kids are often seen playing in the open pit, which is incredibly unsafe, especially with leftover construction equipment and debris scattered around." She asked that the owners either complete the house or remove the work and restore the lot.
The council's presiding official said code enforcement visited the site and placed caution tape and signs. The presiding official added that code enforcement is "working with the company that's in the process of selling it, the homeowner, and getting those things done," and gave Nestor assurances that action would occur "within the next few weeks." The presiding official also said they would follow up with code enforcement and had spoken with the city's legal counsel.
City legal counsel, Mr. Skogstad, told the public that enforcement steps "do take time" and emphasized the need to balance the property owner's rights and the public interest. "I'm managing expectations," he said. "This isn't something that will happen tomorrow ... it may not be cleaned, squared away for, you know, a couple months." He reiterated that the city must be deliberate in its actions and that remedies can take time when private-property rights are involved.
Henry Sasson, another resident who said he inspected the site, described rebar protruding from the ground and conditions he called hazardous to children. He suggested clearer signage and temporary protections while the city pursues longer-term remedies.
No formal council action (motions or votes) was recorded on the item during the meeting. Council members and staff described ongoing coordination among code enforcement, the seller's representative, and the city attorney's office; legal counsel and staff cautioned that any enforcement or corrective work would require time and likely follow-up steps rather than immediate demolition or remediation ordered by the city.
The council's presiding official said staff will continue monitoring and will follow up with Nestor and other neighbors on progress. Residents were also advised they may contact the city health department or code enforcement if public-health or safety conditions worsen.
