*UPDATED* Fire on the 2800 block of 3rd Avenue
Update
One man died in last night’s fire on the 2800 block of 3rd Avenue. From the RTD:
A man in his 50s died as a result of the fire, said Lt. Shawn L. Jones, a spokesman for Richmond Fire and Emergency Services. The victim’s name is not being released until relatives can be notified, he said.
Original story
From the Richmond Fire Department’s twitter tonight we have:
Units on scene of a 2 story house with heavy fire on the 2nd floor. NFD. #
Then about fifteen minutes later:
Fire under control. #
Photo by John Murden.
Richmond fire fatal to disabled man (RTD 12/28/09)
The cbs6 video says at the very end that officials are looking into whether this was a “legal boarding house”. Are there such things in Richmond? At CAPS meetings they’ve told us that more than 4 unrelated adults living together is a violation.
The owner of the property is listed as Calvin Gilliam of Chesterfield County. As the absentee landlord of a possibly illegal boarding house, could he face charges in this?
I know there are several larger homes in the Barton Heights and Highland Park neighborhoods that are functioning as boarding houses… I ran into some of them when I was looking to purchase a home. Not sure about their legality though.
Yes, John and Cheilyn, there are legal boarding houses. Not sure what the regs are regarding them. What is disconcerting though, are the illegal boarding houses and what goes on in them.
Actually in the City of Richmond, there is no such thing as a legal boarding house. They out lawed them in 70s. The limit is 3 unrelated adults may live in the same house. Also if the City/Zoning/CAPS go into a house the inter doors can’t have dead bolt locks. Living Room/Dining can’t be used as a bedroom. Those are usually signs that house is being used as a boarding house.