Houston developer ignores multiple violations and builds dozens of homes without a single permit
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- Опубликовано: 7 апр 2024
- "It's very frustrating for all of us," a long-time Shepherd Forest resident said. There are several visible concrete slabs and mounds of dirt that stand well above 10 feet tall.
Read more: abc13.com/14623904/
Let him build it and then condemn it and have it demolished. You cannot get a permit to occupy if the site has never been permitted and inspected.
You must live under a rock!. You can't stop all these ppl from moving to Houston. And you know they're gonna need a place to stay. So obviously the smart thing to do would to be to build more houses. You are truly slow if you think this is a bad idea
Favors and politics does magic
@@jerinbrowder2468 The "smart thing to do" would be to promote birth control ! There are too many people in Houston, in the USA, and on this planet
That's stupid. Demolition is going to cost a lot of money. Who's going to pay for that? Even if you try to get the developer to pay, it's going to take years.
Isn't it rather obvious that he has connections! You can't just get him, you have to root all the criminals involved in this!
If the city had any balls, they would seize the site😮😮
The city cant just go a take the property.
They sure as hell can the word is called annex
@@greggreg2263 No even close, look up the definition .
@@greggreg2263 eminent domain
i think they are waiting to build up the case more and more and make those fines pile up more and more. eventually they can put a lien on the property and forced it to be sold by the county!!! so this developer is by far 1 dummy!!!!!!!
Simple solution, let the power and water companies know they cannot hook up to any of the buildings when completed. When the banks here this no body will loan money to buy them.
Not only that, but I would imagine the bank and insurance companies would like to see property documents. How is he going to get street addresses, numbers etc.
Don’t contractors have to see a permit before they build anything
No, that's the general contractors job.
Not if they're illegals.
USUALLY........Demolition, Building, electric etc.
@@cjsteadman6217 I highly doubt that they're illegals if they're saying "I don't talk to the fake news"
No, Its not always necessary to have a permit prior to starting construction. You Just need to obtain it by the time you're ready to proceed beyond the point of an inspection, or obtain Courtesy inspections until the permit is released. and that is only in places where permits are required, there are still lots of places in the country where you can just build without permits, mostly in counties or towns under 5k people.
I dealt with the same problem moving into a newly renovated apartment in Montrose. Same stickers, same problem. It's likely the builders cut corners while trying to make an old building look new again. There were constant problems with the plumbing, electricity and what's worse is that a giant open hole was left on the exterior wall. I had a squirrel chewing it's way into my apartment. The next logical step was to test it for mold and the entire back wall had black mold in it. I lived there for only three months and got the heck out as soon as I found the black mold. The owners are clearly taking advantage of renters. Many of the tenants felt trapped in their leases due to the high cost of living and meager incomes. When these things happen, call an attorney and go to court. These slumlords need to be held accountable for not protecting their residents. The owners don't care because it's only a real estate investment. It's up to the management company to ensure health and safety.
*we have the best building inspectors money can buy!*
If he's in violation of the law, and has been ignoring citations and misdemeanor arrest, why hasn't the land been seized by the city? That will get his attention real fast.
goddam so quick to support facism on the local level, fuck permits, no freedom anymore.
All they can do is take him to court. It isn't the wild west come take my property.
@@sundancer3700 Actually it is the wild west. It wouldn't be the first time the city has put a hold (Take) on a property that has been in continual violations of building codes. The only reason it hasn't happened yet, is the reason the local news station would get involved. As soon as a city official gets on camera the wheels will start turning.
Possibly for the same reason Republican Trump and his Republicans staged a coup to overthrow the US to stay in power four years ago and still not in prison! With Republicans even capitalizing on it and threatening to do it again, along with their usual election rigging, and still getting away with it!
@@sundancer3700 really? You've never heard of foreclosures and houses sold without the owner ever being notified or brought to court?
One time a guy got a permit to build a house. He took it upon himself to get the house built in a different spot on the lot. The city inspector said you're building to close to the street. The guy kept building the house and the final inspection, they said tear it down.
That's horrible. Who cares if it's too close to the street. That is what streets are for, to connect with buildings.
Just do not give him a CO. No bank financing or electric without a CO. Not allowed to attach to city water or sewer.
THIS IS WHY THIS SHIT NEEDS TO STOP..STOP ALLOWING THESE DEVELOPERS TO BUILD HERE PERIOD. THE CITY NEEDS TO RECOVER THE STATE NEEDS TO RECOVER. WE ARE CLOSED ESPECIALLY TO THE GREEDY
You must live under a rock!. You can't stop all these ppl from moving to Houston. And you know they're gonna need a place to stay. So obviously the smart thing to do would to be to build more houses. You are truly slow if you think this is a bad idea
This is so stupid, even if he builds houses. The city needs to approve the address, house numbers. How are utilities going to be connected? Banks and insurance companies will want documents.
Here I am, licensed and insured in construction doing remodeling/repairs and I’m worried about permitting replacing a door.
Typically a Certificate of Occupancy is required before utilities are turned on, in a city like Houston that is probably the case, so without permits and inspections it will be impossible to get a C.O.O. On the other hand in a city like Houston that may not be a problem...lol...
Orange mam bad. Go eff yourself MSM.
A little green stuff in the Turner days was the key to unlocking the gates!! Let's see if Whitmire's regime is going to be different!
That is wrong, in order to get a C of O everything has to be up and running for final inspections including all utilities.
But yet the City Permits pffice gives others a hard time to rebuild
And you are lucky if they even respond to your emails... they give favors to people they know (ie. friends, previous permit runners,...) very few follows the rules. I double my arch. fees if the project is within the city limits
big government for you, small government for rich guys with money. texas style leadership
Now yall know you can build without a permit too. Take advantage of it. "Equal protection under the law".
Holy shit, here in the UK if you build an extension on your home without permission, if the local authorities find out, they tear it down at your expense.
Same here too, all that’s been done is site prep work. It’s not like they’re actually built any homes
I don't talk to fake news. That got me.
Translation “I doesn’t talk to anyone who could hold him accountable to the public”
Obviously a MAGA. Probably a sovereign citizen.
It is fake news. They’re talking like he’s built 60 condos in there and all he’s done is torn up the landscaping and put a fence around his property.
“I think I hear people screaming“ that’s not Knothe screaming that’s buyers remorse. All joking aside if you wanna make all these safety experts happy just tear up the road and make it into a hiking park and make them take the alternative route and you’ll hear them scream bloody murder to bring their road back.
Yup he told them straight.
That was my initial reaction. The reality of the situation is he's going to have to get permits to get occupancy. Without permits, whatever he's building will not be able to be built. Or at least whenever they go to close on it, title will not pass.
Paying a fine is way cheaper than dealing with the city
Who is the property owner connected to in city hall?? Sounds like corruption
Possible but not necessarily. There have been citations issued but really what does that accomplish if the person says so what and just pays someone to ignore that and keep working? Sorta like the fines for illegal dumping. Some just pay and keep doing illegal dumping cause the fine is cheap and they don't care. The story said the charge in this situation is a misdemeanor. I don't think a person able to get the financing to build 50 townhouses really cares about a misdemeanor and a fine.
If anyone builds on their own property a garden shed or a patio, they need a permit, if they don't have one the local government will force you to tear it down.
No they will not be forced to tear it down. They are fined and the fine is cheaper than the permit. Been there done that. No one should be able to tell you what you can and can not build on your land.
Depends on the city codes. If it falls under a certain size sheds, then no permit is required.
did he get the soil tested? if he didn't its a federal violation and send in housing authroity. any building made on untested soil will have to be destroyed as it will be deemed unsafe
He got you with the “fake news” tag.
There isn’t a single structure built on that property. Installing drains isn’t a structure. Dozen of what? Pipes. You can’t live in a 6” pipe.
Guy could be building a parking lot at this point.
He only talks to fake building departments..
I worked in an office building just south of there back in 1992. We flooded to the ceiling -- so bad that we weren't allowed to try to retrieve anything after the water receded.
Maybe this guy wants the city to come after him legally so he can cash in on some technicality . Because of brazen he seems
It really boggles my mind why I would need to ask permission from the government to build or repair my own property with my own money.
Because you'll want to connect your building to public roads and utilities.
"....ignores multiple of violations and builds dozens of homes....". Um..... uh.... there is not a single foundation, let along "dozens of homes". Slow news day.
Exactly how does he think he's going to get a certificate of occupancy for any of those.
He's “got a guy.”
building withOUT permits is insanity, city will not hookup water or sewer
Wait until they try to get sewer and water hookups. That's where the city has the leverage.
Yo that was ballsy as hell! I want to work for my man! Permits? Where we're going, we don't need any permits. 🚗⚡⚡⚡
There is one way to stop him. Wait until it rains and his unapproved grading sends runoff from his property and into someone else’s. If it causes damage, you can sue him. Everyone needs to sue him individually and get a different date for the proceedings.
I have a home in South Florida. When my water heater needed to be replaced I learned I needed a building permit to replace it! No plumber would touch it without one! Crazy you could find contractors who would risk loosing or having there licenses suspended.
It seems that a certain kind of person says, "I don't talk to the fake news."
Contractors can sign for variances and if they document their work they can get a permit approved and a variance after the fact. You might be a little expensive but with the price of homes he'll make it back. The important thing is that he doesn't violate building standards or endangered. You can really piss off the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Permits are a crap money grab by cities.
Yep
It's Texas. Happens all the time
Also, many big businesses don't pay their sales tax.
It's Texas
They are not laws if they can't be enforced. They are just suggestions and to him just jokes.
Somebody is getting paid off. This should set a nice precedent in Houston, if this developer is allowed to build without permits then nobody else in Houston should be required to have one as well. It's a free for all Houston!!
This has been happening for decades in Houston
Permits DO NOT mean it will be built properly.
People are so naive.
100%
And not having a permit does not mean that it isnt built properly.
the fines are cheaper than the permits?
Wait until everything is almost built, then out a cease and desist order since there are no permits or inspections. Force them to then revuild everything.
It took TWO YEARS to get that far? By the time this project gets done, there will be nobody around who remembers that there were no permits. . . . .
no utilities should be connected; no access should be granted for use after construction.
I've built new pole buildings, poured new foundations and drilled new water wells without pulling any permits.
After 40 some years in the residential construction industry.....tis the damndest thing EVER
people work so hard to be able to afford a home and its a life dream. I think its crazy how people do things like this
I don’t see any major construction.
All I see is some minor site work.
Whether he needs permits for the site work, would be up to local/county/state regulations.
Looks like any work done so far is merely grading the ground which only gets inspected After it’s done.
As long as he doesn’t prevent it from being inspected he can always get a permit later. The problem would arise when future improvements prevent inspected. Such as pouring a foundation After the plumbing is installed, but before it’s inspected (since it would be covered up and not able to be inspected.)
The reason so many people can’t afford a home is because the gov abuses power to delay giving “permission” for people to be free to build housing.
If you watch the video, it's clear that some plumbing has already been installed.
@@xenophore nothing that can’t be inspected
There is no equipment on site
What's that big yellow thing @1:35 ?
Something similar happened when a company just ignored the process and started building on my cousins property. Materials accidentally caught fire when we held our 4th of July fireworks picnic near there and oops. He tried to get us arrested and sue, but of course it came out its not his property and no permits.
I think someone was betting that "the money" would not be willing to go in reverse and demo the potential property tax rev. And to pay a fine and keep building...
If all you have to do to build some thing, whatever you want wherever you want is to just completely ignore civil law in any notifications or postings from law enforcement. All you have to do is pay a fine and that’s it. He can just keep building? How does that not make the entire legal system surrounding permits and property complete nonsense?
Somebody knows somebody! How long would any of us get away with this?
Why haven’t gotten a restraining order? He violates it, he goes to jail.
Where's the Land owner. Can't the land owner make the developer pay the permit cost and the cost of the delay.
If you believe a permit ensures the build will be compliant with local codes then you have been sorely misled
He should never be allowed to connect to sewer, water and power till this is resolved. Resolving may require tear down to get proper inspections done. Better to do things properly now over later. Heck I wouldn't let him connect to the roads with out proper permitting. He's not building a self sufficient compound inn the woods. Unless the city is totally corrupt this isn't going to go well for him.
Sounds like the city council is looking the other way and letting the developer get away with a crime.
Besides a dishonest and unethical developer, this looks like an enforcement issue. The city needs to grow a pair.
If you or I did this, we would be forced to tear it down.
Is that fence facing the wrong way? Here the good side must face your neighbor.
Use the civil forfeiture! This is one of the rare occasion police can use the civil forfeiture to take the property which will stop the crime immediately.
When they tell the homeless to get a permit for their shacks, they can come after this guy.
1:02 There is your problem. NIMBY neighbors. Trying to deny families a home because you happen to live near there is outrageous. If the city doesn't issue building permits in a timely manner, that's on the city to get it together. Those neighbors need to get a hobby.
I wonder if he can sell a house that was illegally built? It seems the mortgage companies would not like that.
How is he going to get certificate for occupancy ?
Screw the fine ... get a court ordered shut down of that company. If the owner ignors that then have an arrest warrent written out in his name.
unbelievable....
The headache learning and etc is the architect etc business about qualifications and being a certain way about
It is obvious that he has connections, Follow the money and root out the corruption!
This is when you start fining people for their total net worth plus interest. Plus jail time. Plus seizure of property.
Nobody will have a permit to throw a Molotov cocktail in the construction project when it is near completion either!
He’s connected with power players in TX. File suit that notifies county & city they are accepting ALL liabilities
Well at least the developer is smart enough not to talk to the fake news.
Isn't he representing the attitude of so many Texans? Why follow the rules? 😮
Good! Maybe it will help with the homeless crisis in America. Every town and city in America should be doing this! Defi the government! Help your fellow citizens!
where are the "dozens of homes?"
I can see the underground sewer and that had best be inspected before they pave over it.
I feel sorry for the people who buys
What is he building... Can't you see? It's right there in the drone view. He "paved paradise & put up a parking lot."
Qualified and Qualifications not the same vessels but it's good to have both etc these days no bs about our and your lots
Isn't it amazing what can be done without Government interference/permits?
Doesn't talk to the fake news? I wonder why he would make a claim like that?
Qualified and Qualifications not the same but it's good to have both these days big lots no bs and the architect etc business also dealing with other contractor officers etc vessels no bs about our and your lots
Wow I passed through here every day I work for hogue landscape and since the beginning I’ve paid close attention to that wooden fence and the soil I guess home owners paid to “level” out their lawn what a poor job brother 😆
I thought Houston had no zoning laws
this builder guy knows the loop to go around the permit. and nothing can anyone do. this guy is the law.
Who was in office 2yrs ago - That explains everything.
Developers make a lot of money. They can afford to pay out lush kickbacks. The Eternal Growth Machine mindset of any city's bureaucracy has them see developers as the people who will usher in more tax revenue. It's all right on the face of it.
Jebus…
What other stuff does this developer have going on to where they’d ask “what can I help you with” and then immediately resort to “I don’t talk to the fake news”
He literally was willing to progress the conversation until the elephant in the room came up
No underhanded tactics, no deception… “this is who we are and we’d like to ask you about _______”
Just reply “no comment” right away and block the number… if Channel 13 keeps contacting him, make it clear that he has no comment and that harassment isn’t ok and block that number as well… if Channel 13 keeps contacting then file a complaint
But nothing makes this guy sound dumber than “I don’t take to the fake news”
🙄🙄🙄
“We’ve been working with the city to resolve our permit issues” or “miscommunications led to legal matter that are currently being addressed that we cannot comment on” … or like I already said “no comment, thank you”
Under Bureau Land management also federal Land etc vessels no bs
this is all protected from the top. If he didn't have a "roof" to cover him, - construction would never happen.
First heavy rain the neighbors will be flooded out.
wait this is really strange. why would a developer continue to build something thats not even approved at all by the city. yes not even a arrest warrant can stop him? this is by far 1 of the strangest crimes i heard here.
You should not need a damned permit
Seize the property.
narcissism
Getting tired of this "fake news" that people throw out there when it's a report on something they don't like. So childish.
The order to cease and desist won't be fake.