Richmond Unsafe Building Commission affirms liens for three properties, approves payment plan for one contract purchaser

The Richmond City Unsafe Building Commission on Tuesday voted to affirm administrative liens to recoup city costs for emergency demolition or cleanup at 25 North Twelfth Street, 534 South Eleventh Street and 1548 South Sixth Street, and authorized staff to work with the Law Department and Code Enforcement on a payment plan for the contract purchaser of 1548 South Sixth.

At a cost hearing for 25 North Twelfth Street, staff presented photos and a contract showing an emergency demolition of a garage after a fire. The commission affirmed an administrative lien for the total cost of $8,738 to be applied to the property owned in the public record by JM Bach Investments. The commission approved the lien by voice vote.

For 534 South Eleventh Street, inspectors documented trash, debris and unsecured utilities; the city boarded and sealed the structure and removed hazardous materials. The commission affirmed an administrative lien of $2,490 against the recorded owner, Hussein Nizemel, for emergency cleanup, boarding and sealing costs.

The commission also considered 1548 South Sixth Street, recorded in the name of Donald (and Brian) Ballinger. Staff described broken windows, glass on walkways, unsecured doors and extensive cleanup; two contractors performed work after the initial contractor needed to be replaced, and staff combined the two contracts into a single billing. The total amount the commission affirmed at the hearing was $3,370.02. A woman identifying herself as Betty Johnson told the commission she purchased the house on a land contract with her sister in August 2024, that she has invested in repairs, and that the fines predated her purchase. She asked that her sister not be held responsible and asked the commission to avoid attaching the lien to the November tax bill. After discussion of the title status and applicable state law, the commission affirmed the lien against the recorded owner but directed the Law Department and Code Enforcement to set up a payment plan agreeable to Betty Johnson, and the chair stated that if a payment plan is set up it would not be attached to the November taxes.

All three cost hearings recorded a motion and second and were approved by voice vote. For 1548 South Sixth the commission explicitly modified the administrative action by including direction that the Law Department confer with Code Enforcement to draft a payment plan for the contract purchaser while retaining the lien against the recorded owner.

The commission also completed standard business at the start of the meeting, accepted proof of publication for notices and approved previous meeting minutes.

Details on the parties, costs and next steps appear below.

Votes at a glance

- 25 North Twelfth Street (emergency demolition of garage): affirmed administrative lien for $8,738; recorded owner: JM Bach Investments; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- 534 South Eleventh Street (emergency cleanup, boarding and sealing): affirmed administrative lien for $2,490; recorded owner: Hussein Nizemel; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- 1548 South Sixth Street (emergency cleanup, boarding and sealing; combined contractor bills): affirmed administrative lien for $3,370.02; recorded owner: Donald Ballinger (property reported also associated with Brian Ballinger); contract purchaser: Betty Johnson (land contract signed Sept. 3, 2024); outcome: approved with modification directing Law Department and Code Enforcement to draft a payment plan for the contract purchaser.

Ending

The commission did not specify individual roll-call vote tallies in the record beyond unanimous voice approval. The Law Department and Code Enforcement were assigned to follow up on the payment-plan arrangement for 1548 South Sixth Street; staff will notify parties of next steps.