City may take action against Liberty Street wall owners
The Liberty Street wall
The drama surrounding the 9500 Liberty Street wall is intensifying by the day.
The city of Manassas sent a letter dated May 15 to co-owners Delia Alvarez and Gaudencio Fernandez that directed them to obtain a demolition permit for their now infamous political sign in 10 days or the city would pursue legal action. Fernandez confirmed Friday that he received the letter from the city and said he doesn’t know when he will be able to apply for the permit.
“I am working to pay my bills, maybe sometime in June,” Fernandez said.
According to building official Brian Smith, Fernandez obtained a six-month demolition permit on April 12, 2007, which has since expired. Fernandez started the work in September but left standing the wall with political messages criticizing Prince William County’s resolution targeting illegal immigrants.
On Nov. 6, the city issued a building violation after Fernandez re-enforced the structure without obtaining a permit. The May 15 letter states that Fernandez let his appeal period expire without addressing the violation.
The letter also states that a new demolition permit must be obtained in order to submit an application for a new structure. On Jan. 2, Fernandez applied for a building permit for a new 200-foot L-shaped wall but was denied the application because it was interpreted as a permanent structure that would require a Special Use Permit for a semi-public use from the City Council, said Community Development Director Elizabeth Via.
On top of the building code violation, the May 15 letter references a zoning ordinance violation for trash and debris. The notice was sent in late November and received by Fernandez, according to the letter.
A re-inspection was done in December and found the property still in violation.
The letter goes on to say that the “remaining trash, building material and debris generate a health concern for the residents in the area, as they provide a habitat for undesirable wildlife, such as rats, bees and snakes. This is a serious public health and safety concern with the summer months approaching and the violation can no longer linger.”
The city plans on doing a re-inspection of the property after the 10-day window has expired, according to the letter.
While city manager Lawrence Hughes said Thursday that the city’s goal is still compliance not prosecution, the letter states that inaction by the property owner on these issues “will leave the city with no alternative but to pursue legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction.”
Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-369-5738.
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Reader Reactions
PWCMom. Here are the facts: the members of the PWC BOCS passed the racist resolution on ethnic cleansing. Just because you say it isn’t racist has no proof or bearing. Where do YOU get your FACTS? And your silence will also be deafening - like all savage anti-immigrants.
Does anybody notice the fence?
Considering Fernandez has ignored getting the legal permits it is time for the county to take action with a lawsuit. This is a problem years in the making, not to mention it is also a haven for rats and disease, human or otherwise. Most of the law abiding legal immigrants agree that illegal is illegal and that breaking the law such as what is being done with the sign must be stopped. Gentlemen start your bulldozers. I fully expect the lawsuit to be hefty and the owner will be forced to take the sign down according to the law as well as lose his property. Chris Cummings
cite folks, cite. not “site”. cite is like a citation. site is like where a building will be located. As in “the city should cite him for not keeping his site properly maintained”. And, it’s only a “hate” message if you don’t agree with it. If you support the message, it’s a public service.
The sign is ugly. I expect he will take it down and replace it with same sentiment, to code. Then what will happen?
Calisto, Therein lies the problem. Mr. Fernandez has repeatedly ignored notices of violations since 2005 and the city has not done a thing to make him comply. The demolition permit was issued for three months, not the six months this paper has stated. This was a YEAR ago and the city has not done one thing to make Fernandez finish the demolition of the house. NO fines are racking up because our city refuses to enforce their own zoning laws. And here again they are allowing Fernandez to apply for a new permit? Fine and site him for not complying with the FIRST one!!!!!!
I want to ask our City why Fernandez wasn’t sited with a fine when the 3 not 6 month demolition permit expired. Why is he allowed to file for yet another one? He still has not filed for the building permit he was told he had to when the side of the house was reinforced for the billboard. He also has not been sited. This is the most unbelievable case of preferential treatment I have ever seen.
The hateful sentiments on the sign show the attitude of those who, having ruined their own countries, flee to the US and critize those who want the rule of law enforced, who want order to prevent the 3rd world situation those individuals created and fled. That hatespeech does not instill tolerance.
Gaudencio Fernandez is so busy working to pay his bills that he had the time to go to the Coverstone 7-11 this morning to support “his people” (his words) in gaining unlawful day labor employment today.
Although I agree that the owners have a right to voice their opinion, I object to the fact that it is in a residential neighborhood and the message is full of unfounded allegations of racism, etc. The sign does NOTHING but enflame the issue further, so what is it’s real purpose other than to spread ill feelings the other way?
To the “anti-resolution” crowd, I ask YET AGAIN to name specific and hard facts that show that any County employee charged with enforcing the resolution has engaged in a proven racist act. Hmmmmmm…....the silence is deafening!
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