New Article About Our Squat!

Battery Tracks: Story of a Richmond Squat

Taking Back Richmond!

About Taking Back Richmond is a group of local community activists who participated in the takeover of a property abandoned by a local slumlord, Oliver Lawrence. We dispute his claim as owner of 2913 Montrose Avenue because he has shown absolutely no responsibility for the property- not paying back taxes, not upkeeping the property, not being accountable to the neighborhood.

We understand that the challenge to property rights upsets many people who fear the consequences of property rights becoming fallable. However, we hold that property rights are not inalienable and that in many cases upholding property rights allows individuals to commit property WRONGS in our city.

Now, the activists are working on ways to put pressure on the slumlord as well as on Richmond City Council to change the ways that blighted and abandoned properties are dealt with in the city. In light of the current economy, home foreclosures, layoffs, unemployment and homelessness we say that it makes absolutely no sense to allow homes to sit empty when there are people in desperate need of housing. Instead of properties without paid property taxes going to auction and being sold to real estate speculators essentially the same as slumlords like Lawrence, we propose that a system be set up to sell those properties to low income folks at the price of the back property taxes owed the city under the conditions that the new owners commit to bringing the building up to code and living in the home for a period of time, perhaps 5 years. This would prevent house flippers and folks just looking to invest. Instead, we could fill abandoned homes with people who want to live there themselves and become parts of those communities.

To contact the activists to see how you can help start a powerful movement for housing justice in Richmond you can comment, email, write, or call: Mo Karn Eris Morna 804 300 0023 xveganarchistrvax@gmail.com Mo Karn PO Box 6025 Richmond, VA 23222

Article on local CBS 6

http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?S=9860648

A group of Richmond neighbors says it broke the law to prove a point.

The neighbors say they moved into an empty Battery Park home months ago to fix the neglected property. The problem is they do not own the home, nor are they renting it from a landlord.

Article on northrichmondnews.com

this is part of what is up on northrichmondnews.com about our action. check it out and leave a comment

activists make Montrose house symbol of fight against decay Over the past month, community activists claiming rights as homesteaders have been fixing up 2913 Montrose Avenue, a property that they describe as having been vacant for 3 years. Given 24 hours on Monday to stop work and leave by the property owner, the notorious Oliver Lawrence, the protest/confrontation should play out during the day on Tuesday.

18 Responses to “activists make Montrose house symbol of fight against decay”

Improvements We Made to 2913

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Improvements made at Battery Tracks

Since moving in these are some of the improvements that have been made by the new residents at Battery Tracks (2913 Montrose Avenue).

Priming the front porch railing

Priming the back porch railing

Painting the Front porch railing

Painting the back porch railing

Installing a mail box

Putting out Welcome Mats

Digging up the dirt, grass, and weeds that had been covering the front sidewalk

Problems at 2913 Under Lawrence’s ‘Ownership’

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We have created a detailed log of the things that were wrong with 2913 Montrose Avenue, the things we have managed to fix, and the amount of money we have spent fixing up the property. This is meant to show on the one hand the neglect and abandonment by Oliver Lawrence, and on the other, the dedication and hard work we have done. Some of the problems with the property and residence under the ownership of Oliver Lawrence are as follows:

Broken Windows-At least 5 windows in the main structure are partially or fully broken. These were sources of multiple types of trouble. The broken windows allowed wind and rain into the house. They also gave access to insects, animals, and humans. In addition, the broken shards of glass posed a threat to children in the area who might try to enter the property.

More on Our position

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We decided that even if our living at 2913 Montrose Avenue was not completely legal, it is morally legitimate and so we are going to do what we can to keep the property. We did a ton of work on the house and in doing so have improved our neighborhood.

We need to take a stand against slumlords and capitalist profiteering and land speculating which harms our communities. Oliver Lawrence does not contribute to the Battery Park community. He is not a good neighbor, he is the worst neighbor possible.

2913 Montrose Avenue- aka Battery Tracks

The house at 2913 Montrose Avenue has a recent history of abandonment and blight. The property was previously owned by a gentleman who was trying to renovate it, and after his death the house was sold to Oliver Lawrence, a notorious Richmond slumlord. The renovations were left only partially finished, and after over 3 years of ownership Oliver Lawrence and his company (Bayou Properties LLC) have failed to do even basic maintenance of the property. Bayou Properties has also failed to pay any taxes on the property. They owe over 3 years of back taxes. The property has remained vacant, with no effort made by Lawrence to renovate, rent, lease, or sell the property. Mr. Lawrence has taken no responsibility for the blighted property or the problems it causes the surrounding community.

City of Richmond Ordinance of Interest

City Code Concerning City Surplus Property

http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/Departments/realestateservices/CityOwned_SurplusInfo.aspx

Sec. 26-89. Sale of blighted or tax delinquent real estate acquired by city.
(a) Sale for $1.00. The chief administrative officer may provide for the
sale of real estate for the nominal amount of $1.00 in accordance with
Code of Virginia, § 15.2-958.1 if such real estate qualifies under the
requirements of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-958.1(A).

Richmond Activists Fight Slumlord Over Squat

In the midst of record foreclosures and houses left empty all over the country, community activists in Richmond have been trying to clean up a blighted house and make it into a home. Now, they face threats of eviction and arrest from Oliver Lawrence, a notorious property speculator and slumlord

.

The activists Jeremy Hawthorne, Eris Morna, and Mo Karn contest Lawrence’s right to the property, pointing to years of unpaid taxes and failure to do basic maintenance. “Mr. Lawrence would prefer this house to be an empty blight on the community rather than a home for someone who needs it. We feel that he has no legitimate claim to the property. At a time when people face eviction and foreclosure daily, we must take a stand against speculators and banks who want to keep perfectly good homes standing empty.”