In One Heated Dispute, Someone Set a Fire

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The Vernon Street Fire

On November 5, 2006, a fire broke out at 1846 Vernon Street NW in Washington D.C. The blaze came amid one of the city's fiercest battles betweeen tenants who wanted to stay in the building and a landlord who wanted them out so the property could be redeveloped. Responsibility for the blaze has never been determined and the arson probe is stalled.

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DCRA took a closer look at the case and found a discrepancy: The asbestos and lead report submitted by the owners appeared to have been prepared for a building in Leesburg.

The owners said that the report mentioned Leesburg just once and that it was a typographical error. The issue was never resolved, but DCRA later ordered its own study, which found the cleanup could take place without emptying the buildings.

Graham, meanwhile, had called a hearing to investigate whether tenants had been treated fairly. His committee later issued subpoenas for e-mails and other documents.

In December 2005, Salmon e-mailed Perseus Realty's Bolton and asked: "What is the worst case scenario in this whole process? Are there any possible legal ramifications?"

Bolton responded: "Short of bad press we have no issues. You are very clean as you don't know anything and you are not party to any real information."

In an interview, Bolton said he did not remember writing the e-mail. He said Salmon was hired to work with tenants in person and to present a choice: Either return after the renovations as renters or leave permanently.

"The reality is that people readjust their commuting pattern, they readjust their neighborhood, and to the extent that they did not want to come back after they relocated, we simply wanted to give them that right," Bolton said.

Salmon could not be located to comment. Perseus Realty President Robert Cohen said the company did nothing wrong.

"We conduct ourselves with the highest level of responsibility," Cohen said.

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Although DCRA hastily told tenants they no longer had to move for asbestos and lead cleanup, they faced another problem: the buildings were breaking down.

Ceilings were cracked and leaking. Window frames had rotted. Smoke detectors, lights and radiators were not working.