Prior to our appointment, police received literally daily calls to handle disturbances at this property, that housed both a liquor store and an evangelical church. It was a hotbed of crime plaguing the local area; the scene of shootings (one fatal), drug sales, and gang activity. Yet the horrific criminal activity on the property was only part of the problem since the violations of health and safety laws onsite were equally disturbing. City code enforcement inspectors found the liquor store to be the source of the problem, as it was maintained in a highly unsanitary way. Decaying materials including bottles of urine were stored next to food for sale and the property lacked potable water.

Additionally, the walls and ceilings were dilapidated and the building was not structurally sound. Parts of the roof were missing and windows were damaged, which allowed the elements inside of the building and increased the spread of mold. Junk and debris cluttered the interior of the store and, although it was not permitted to be a residence, people were living on-site. Two years of city code enforcement efforts to work with the owners to restore this property were unsuccessful, and we were appointed by a Superior Court Judge to ensure the removal of the dangerous conditions at the property.

Photos of the Property Prior to Receivership

Finding a Solution That Would Benefit a Diverse Group of People

Our first step was to secure this property and put an end to the criminal activity on-site. We installed 24-hour security and were informed by law enforcement that calls for police services to the property stopped after we took over. It was not safe for the church to operate inside of the building due to the structural issues and we helped the parishioners relocate to a new building. Construction on commercial properties is done with a business goal in mind, but we didn’t know what the future owner of this property would use it for. We felt it best to arrange a sale and find a new owner who would not only fix the violations of health and safety codes but also set up a business that would bring value to the surrounding community.

Listening to Community Members and Finding a New Use for this Building

Family Dollar Stores expressed their interest in purchasing the property and building a store there. Working together with city code enforcement as well as the Court, we determined that a Family Dollar Store would benefit the surrounding community. Plus, the company had the means to complete the necessary renovation work on this property and maintain it in compliance with health and safety codes in the long run. The receivership remained in place until the transition of ownership of the property to Family Dollar Stores was complete and the remaining dangers on-site were abated.

Photos of the Property After Receivership