County moves to demolish blighted house on Eighth Street
There is a house not far from central Annandale that is so blighted, Fairfax County officials want it to be demolished. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is holding a hearing next Tuesday, Oct. 19, 4:30 p.m., at the Government Center, to declare the house at 6540 Eighth St., Alexandria, a nuisance and approve a blight abatement plan for the property.
The notice on the hearing states that the one-story house, with a full basement, has been vacant since November 2007, when the current owner, Zia U. Hassan (the registered agent for ISA Homes LLC), purchased it for redevelopment purposes. Hassan had planned to tear it down and build a new house, but held off due to the declining real estate market.
The house is boarded up and covered in heavy vegetation. It has been vandalized and is full of trash. The property also contains an abandoned boat. “In its current condition, Blight Abatement Program staff feel that the dwelling is not economically feasible to repair and recommends demolition,” the notice states. At the public hearing, the owner will be warned that unless the property is abated within 30 days, the county will proceed with demolition. The cost of demolition is estimated at $40,000, and the county will seek to recover those funds from the owner.
Under the state’s spot blight abatement ordinance, a property is considered blighted if it endangers the public’s health, safety, or welfare because the structure or improvement upon the property is dilapidated, deteriorated, or violates minimum health and safety standards.” Additionally, a county ordinance authorizes properties to be subject to a blight abatement program if they have been vacant or boarded up for at least one year, been the subject of complaints, are no longer being maintained for useful occupancy, and are dilapidated and not maintained properly.