District Court rules that the old Ramada Inn owner must repair exterior of the building by June
PETERSBURG - The District Court issued a judgement a case between the City of Petersburg and the owner of the old Ramada Inn on E. Washington Street. A judge has ordered that the hotel owner, Chris Harrison, will have to bring the exterior of the building up to code by June.
The dilapidated building greets cars when they enter the city from Interstate 95. Many residents criticize the building's unsightliness, saying that it gives a poor impression of their home city, which is pushing for economic revival.
The hotel has continued to deteriorate since it was last open for business nearly a decade ago. Court filings allege that Harrison has continually failed to meet promises to develop the building and that he has ignored numerous citations from the city's code enforcement division.
The City of Petersburg v. Virginia Hotel Development, LLC; Christopher Harrison; and C.A. Harrison Companies, LLC was filed on May 17, 2021 and tried Wednesday in Petersburg General District Court. The suit was tried for exterior building code violations that have and continue to exist at the property.
District Court Judge Kenneth Blalock ordered that the defendants "abate or otherwise remedy the violations through hazard control within six months." That makes the final deadline for these corrections June 8, 2022. The defendants were also ordered to pay a $3,000 plus court costs.
"This is a favorable step toward bringing this property into compliance and removing the dangers associated with the old Ramada eyesore that has plagued the city for some time," said Petersburg City Attorney Anthony Williams.
Counsel for the defendants expressed an intention to appeal this case to the Petersburg Circuit Court.
The two parties are scheduled for another docket call in July. Then, the circuit court will hear Petersburg's 267-page complaint against Harrison that was filed on June 3, 2021. In that filing, Petersburg is asking the court to declare the old hotel an "unsafe structure" and a "nuisance." The city is also seeking the right to enter or abate the property at the cost of a lien to the property holder.
"Petersburg will continue to use all available legal means to ensure that this dilapidated building is no longer a burden upon and a danger to the citizens of Petersburg," said Mayor Sam Parham.
The mayor has previously expressed a desire for the building to be salvaged and turned into a hotel, rather than demolished entirely. A Jan. 2021 report from Moseley Architects showed that despite the exterior damages, the hotel's core structure is still solid.
Senator Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, has been supportive of the city's efforts to address the hotel's condition. He stood next to Parham at a press conference in June where the two men announced the Circuit Court complaint. He has so far been vocal about having the hotel removed.
"I remain optimistic that a favorable conclusion will be reached to remove this blighted structure," Morrissey said.
You can reach Sean Jones at sjones@progress-index.com. Follow him at @SeanJones_PI. Follow The Progress-Index on Twitter at @ProgressIndex.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Court orders old Ramada Inn owner to repair exterior by June
