VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Three weeks after 10 On Your Side highlighted viewers concerns surrounding outstanding code violations on a Virginia Beach property, the property has been cleaned up.

Now, the property at 204 Dorset Ave., in the industrial area west of Town Center, is now, truly, a vacant, vacant lot.

Gone is the burnt-out fifth-wheel camper and cabin cruiser boat, “Penelope,” that had sat on the less than half-an-acre plot for more than two years.

Also missing is the trash and overgrown brush that occupied the slab left over from an old building.

Chris Heidebur, who owns Speedgears on the neighboring property, said after years of asking the city to force the property owner to clean up the lot, everything changed after the 10 On Your Side story.

‘It’s an eyesore,’ 3 years following deadly fire, a burned out camper remains on VB lot

"Literally, I got here in the morning, the day or so after the news interview, and [the city] had people out here cleaning up the weeds and cleaning out the camper and pretty much cleaning it all up," Heidebur said. "I said, 'Well, your city sure can move fast once the news gets on them.'"

Susan Whitehurst, who owns the Whitehurst Auto Tech building on the other side of the property, also was amazed at the speed.

"I am so excited," Whitehurst said. "I was stunned. I was shocked. I couldn't believe that they got on it so quickly."

The property is owned by Rezainik Management Group, LLC, and has been since 2000, according to Virginia Beach land records. Mehdi Michael Rezainik is listed as the manager.

Following a deadly fire inside the camper in December 2022, Rezainik was issued a violation by the city in July 2023 for having junk on the property, including the “burned down 5th wheel camper.”

While a city spokesperson said legal action was being initiated back then, no action was ever taken, as "police have not been able to locate the property owner to serve them with the criminal summonses.”

However, video shows Rezainik appeared in-person twice at Virginia Beach City Hall in September 2023.

Under state law, localities have the right to correct violations and send proepty owners the bill.

Whitehurst and Heidebur want to know what took so long in this case.

When a code violation is present, we mail a notice of violation to all involved parties that explains the time allowed for compliance. Depending on the violation, this can range from seven days (e.g. junk/grass/trash issues) to 90 days (e.g. building maintenance violations). Most cases are resolved by voluntary compliance.

When the responsible party fails to comply within the specified timeframe, Code Enforcement initiates criminal court action by issuing a summons through the Magistrate’s Office, which are sent to Police to obtain service. When summonses are unable to be served, Code Enforcement can reevaluate whether contractual abatement is feasible.

We followed this process in the Dorset Avenue case when we could not gain voluntary compliance and Police were unable to locate the responsible party to serve the summons, which contributed to the length of time. We were able to coordinate with multiple contractors to facilitate a solution.

Yes, liens were placed against the property for cost of the cleanup and camper removal. At this time, we do not have information on where the boat and camper were taken to.

— Jasmin Ciesielski
HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION
City of Virginia Beach

A tax lien for more than $3,400 has now been placed on the property to cover the costs of moving the camper, according to city records.

"Definitely, 100% — definitely 10 was on our side today," Heidebur said.