Please post cases of which you know as “comments” and we will update the main post master list.
The cases below are listed because they meet two conditions:
1. DC made a significant permit error.
2. DC residents - namely the Homeowners – experienced a financial hardship as a result.
Additional: In the cases below, the Homeowners have built the structures in question based on the permit provided by DC when DC orders a stop-work order. Based on the process described in a Washington Post article , our assumption is that one or more of the Other Parties listed below alerted DC to the error. We currently have no information on any mediation or other interactions between the Homeowners and the Other Parties, although it is clear that such action would be a prudent step toward early resolution. See “Successful Zoning Mediations and Solutions” post for more on this at http://dczoningproblems.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/dcra_successful-dc-zoning-mediations-or-solutions/.
VU CAMACHO
HOMEOWNERS (in possession of DC’s flawed permit):
Minh Vu, Raymond Camacho
GVT Officials: Eugene A. Adams, Patrick Canavan
OTHER PARTIES:
Neighbors: Deborah Royster, Robert A. Malson, Ellen Elizabeth Grooms, James S. Edmonds, Sidney H. and Bebra Evans
Civic Association: Jerome Paige
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR2007010901753.html
FREY
HOMEOWNERS: Josh and Katherine Frey (in possession of DC’s flawed permit):
GVT Staff: William Crews, Yvonne Rocket, Lennox Douglas
OTHER PARTIES:
ANC: Alma Gates
Neighbor: Alec Klein (Julie-Ann Klein)
Service providers: Drew Construction, Mangan Group Architects
Source: http://ola.dc.gov/oah/lib/oah/pdf/information/orders/case/2007/cr-c-06-100027_final_order_(frey).pdf & http://www.411.com
IN SEARCH OF
HOMEOWNERS:
We have also heard of a Ward 3 resident who had a problem with their fence due to a permit error and incurred substantial legal fees because of DC’s error. We are currently searching for this resident.
OTHER PARTIES:
Reportedly Involved ANC: Alma Gates
I am one of the homeowners you mentioned above. I found this blog when doing a search for Alma Gates. My husband and I wanted to know if she was running again for ANC Commissioner because we feel she plays G*d with our neighborhood and manipulates DC’s broken zoning office in doing so. I have the following comment:
We obtained a building permit from DC and built exactly what was on the permit. It turned out DCRA made a mistake. They realized this when the structure was already built. Our neighbors, Alec and Julie-Ann Klein, submitted an anonymous complaint. Neighborly behavior? No. Would it have been great for the Kleins to tell us they had a problem? Sure. But look, it’s not our neighbor’s job to be nice. Everyone has their share of jerks in a neighborhood. But, it IS DC’s job to issue us a correct permit. It’s literally their job. To say DCRA was unapologetic would be generous. They persecuted us for their error. We attempted to contact an ANC representative, Alma Gates, a bunch of times. She was totally unresponsive. I was just cringing as a taxpayer and resident thinking about how many other zoning roadkill victims must exist in the city.
I’ve got two words for you: Fenty. Cheh. They are the only hope for the mess of a zoning office….. It would have been nice to see the ANC bring everyone together instead of acting as a divisive force. Maybe that is just not a role they’re interested in playing. I’ve read through lots of notes from ANC meetings. They seem perfectly capable of handling such a role.
Comment by Katherine Frey — November 2, 2008 @ 4:06 pm