A Note From Shea Terrace's NIO, Officer Diaz

Vacant homes are an issue all over the Tidewater area due to the current economic situation.  Owners are either unable to sell the home, rent the home, or, in some cases, have lost the home to foreclosure.  Vacant homes which are not being monitored and maintained by the owners are also a law enforcement issue.  Like other area neighborhoods, Shea Terrace currently has vacant homes.  Some of these homes have become targets for vandals and other illegal activities.

City code mandates that vacant homes must be secured and maintained by the owners.  Katherine Koch, environmental quality inspector for the City of Portsmouth, and I work closely together to ensure that vacant homes meet city codes.  In some cases, we have worked together to secure homes properly. 

Please monitor the homes in your section of Shea Terrace for any activity which seems suspicious.  Call 911 FIRST and then call me to advise about any such activities.  Unmaintained vacant homes represent an "attractive nuisance" to juveniles.  They can be a fire hazard and, if left unmonitored, can reduce property values.  Let's continue to work together on this issue by maintaining vigilence on Shea Terrace's vacant houses.

Looking forward to seeing you at the next meeting,

Officer Diaz
235-2500
diazr@portsmouthva.gov