Boardinghouse racks up big fines

By Staff

The owner of a property on Hanover Avenue in Springfield was found to have violated Fairfax County zoning, building and fire safety codes, county officials announced Monday. The courts have ordered Nelson Hernandez to pay nearly $24,000 in civil and criminal fines for the violations.

The home's basement was divided into five bedrooms, lacked proper emergency exits and had a ceiling lined with Styrofoam, officials said.

County officials highlighted the case as one of the most successful efforts of the code enforcement “strike teams,” which have reached their first anniversary. The two original strike teams, formed to target illegal boardinghouses and other major zoning violators, have investigated more than 350 cases, about 132 of which have led to civil and criminal cases.

The Board of Supervisors approved funding for a third strike team, which began working this month.

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