At today's work session the City Council should "just say no" to the request for waiver of unpaid taxes and code citation fees on the vacant apartment house owned by John Phillips, who bought it about 20 years ago and rented units there until the building became derelict a few years ago. He and the Newtown Association are trying to con the Council and the public into believing that he should be relieved of liability of about $5,000 so that he can donate the property to that group, which says that it will demolish the building and convert the site to open space and and a driveway to an adjacent private home.
Phillips says that his property is now worthless because it can no longer be used for apartments and it would be too costly to convert to a single-family home. He has threatened to abandon it (hasn't he already done that?) unless the City does what he wants. And, of course, if it does, the property may not be deemed worthless as a charitable deduction in his tax return,
This scam, which is a variation of the scheme that has resulted in the Bricks and Linen of the Week fiascoes, should be spiked through the heart now.
Mr. Phillips can and should pay his taxes and fees, which are not preventing him from donating the property to the Newtown Association.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
6 comments:
The Town I work in does not waive any fees. We just take to Court for payment.
Phillips is a schister and should be held accountable.
Put a lein on the property. Then it will screw him over whenever he tries to get credit.
Mr. Phillips -- you've been blogged!
Pay up and shut up.
Another slumlord who was willing to take the rent but not maintain his property. Now, his building is trash and its someone else's fault??
It is only a small group in Newtown involved in this.
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