VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — There is a growing concern involving a homeless floating flotilla on London Bridge Creek, and in recent weeks the flotilla has only expanded.
The last time 10 On Your Side saw Matt Gross, which was the name he gave us, we were on the creek. WAVY’s Andy Fox told him we were surprised there aren’t more people at his homeless campsite.
“Well, I run them off … I told them they can’t stay here,” he said.
That was on March 20, 2023, when we found Gross living at a campsite along the London Bridge Creek, north of the 264 overpass at Lynnhaven Drive.
He was homeless living on the property with another man named Chris. Gross also had a vessel called the “Feebus” which may or may not have been operable.
The owner of the property was alerted to the homeless presence in our report on March 20. He said at the time they had to leave the property, which they eventually did.
Seven months later on October 31, 2023, we found the “Feebus” tied up down London Bridge Creek near Potters Road and Lynnhaven Drive. At the time, 10 On Your Side didn’t see anyone at the site where the vessel was tied up in the middle of the creek.
There was also a raft with an American flag and what looked like a submerged jet ski.
Then 10 months later on Monday, August 12, we found the “Feebus” again. But the flotilla site has expanded to 10 vessels on the water: three boats, three rafts or barges, three kayaks and one submerged vessel.
WAVY’s Andy Fox stood on a recently cleared Virginia Beach-owned piece of property that’s parallel to the floating flotilla, and yelled: “Is anyone on the two boats?”
The man who we saw in March 2023, Matt Gross, suddenly appeared on a vessel that was now tied up to the “Feebus.”
“Are you going to leave the vessel?” Fox asked.
Gross shrugged his shoulders, suggesting “I don’t know.”
Gross, once homeless on land, is now homeless on the sea, the creek.
He would argue he is living on a boat, but it is a vessel that he is not given permission to live on by the owner.
“Do you know who owns the boats?” Fox yelled.
Gross yelled back: “They both are mine.”
However, that is not true.
According to the “Feebus” certificate of title with register #3301, it is owned by Bobby Kung of Fredericksburg, not Matt Gross.
Gross would not come to shore, so 10 On Your Side had to yell across the water: “The son (of the man who owned the Feebus) has the title and it is in his name. Are you aware of that?”
Gross gives a thumbs up suggested he does know that.
10 On Your Side yells back: “The son has the title, are you aware of that?”
Gross gave a thumbs up.
“You are, now he wants you to leave that vessel. Are you going to leave that vessel?”
Gross shrugs his shoulders, suggesting he doesn’t know.
10 On Your Side spoke with Kung by phone. His name is on the “Feebus” title and is the official owner of the vessel.
“I understand it is causing a nuisance, and, yes, it would probably benefit all those people in the community around it for him to vacate, and for Mr. Provost to dispose of it.”
Mike Provost has made a name for himself, removing to date 51 derelict vessels like the one Gross is now considered squatting on. He founded and operates the Vessel Disposal and Reuse Foundation (VDRF).
Provost decided to take this case in October 2023.
He has been given written permission by Kung to remove the vessel, and Provost has the money from Virginia Beach to do it.
“Several members of the adjacent neighborhood had contacted us via email and expressed concern about the growing homeless encampment here on the London Bridge Creek.”
It should be noted that, according to Kung, after his father died the father’s wife had the “Feebus.” And at some time either gave Gross or someone the “Feebus.”
However, Kung said his father’s wife did not have the authority to give the boat to anyone, because it is Kung whose name is on the boat title, and he was put on the title by his father.
In the meantime, residents in the nearby Brookegreene Commons neighborhood are frustrated by their neighborhood being the gathering spot for homeless people, whom they claim steal water from residents. They are also concerned about the growing flotilla out on the creek.
“They’re passing the buck back and forth to each other,” said Rich Madden about the city and law enforcement. He said they go back and forth on who should patrol the creek to control the growing flotilla.
“When I hear about the flotilla. What do I think? It’s horrible,” Madden said.
Madden sent pictures of the wayward boat.
“The boat was vacant. I got a picture of the boat floating by. It comes by every couple of days with the tide. It’s loose with nobody in it. When the tide gets low it gets stuck on the banks.”
Provost is extremely concerned about the growing flotilla.
“In October, the first time I came out here, the damage that was being done environmentally was half. This site has now doubled in the past 10 months. There are vessels, more debris, more floating barges than in October 2023.”
Provost compares the flotilla to the problem of graffiti.
“It is just like graffiti on a side of a building. If you do not clean it up, more graffiti follows. If you do not clean up these vessels, more vessels show up.”
Provost also wondered: if the city does not do something now, will things get even worse?
“So, in 10 months the site has doubled. So, what happens if nothing gets done for another 10 months? Is it going to double again? It’s not fair to the neighborhoods. We need to get these things cleaned up as soon as possible.”
The city of Virginia Beach declined any on camera interviews, but sent this statement from Virginia Beach’s Director of Communications, Tiffany Russell. It says in part:
“(The) vessel is inhabited by an individual the owner has not authorized … this individual is known to the City, and the City has offered resources to the individual numerous times that have been declined … and (we) are actively working to resolve the issue within the framework provided by state code. “
Provost adds the importance of continued coverage of what’s happening on the creek,
“So, the main thing that WAVY’s helped, the foundation with is exposure and putting a light on these issues. Without WAVY’s assistance we would not be able to maintain momentum and get these programs complete. This is months in the making. We are hoping that WAVY can help find a way to get these things removed and disposed of.”
As for Matt Gross, he gets that he is not the owner. But city of Virginia Beach officials, listen up.
Gross told us: “If you get Bobby Kung down here, I will turn the boat over to him. I have no problem doing that. I will not turn it over to the city … I am not leaving until I have to.”
Here’s the full statement from the city of Virginia Beach:
Abandoned and derelict vessels are a well-documented issue facing Virginia as outlined in the two public resources attached — Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan and the Virginia Abandoned and Derelict Vessels Work Group report. I thought these might be of interest to you for your story.
However, unique to this case at London Bridge Creek is that the abandoned and derelict vessel is inhabited by an individual that the owner has not authorized. This individual is known to the City, and City has offered resources to the individual numerous times that have been declined.
The General Assembly passed a new code section effective July 1 that allows for alternative options for the City to handle abandoned vessels. What I can share at this time is that we are in active communication with the unauthorized inhabitant, the vessel owner and Vessel Disposal & Reuse Foundation (VDRF), and are actively working to resolve the issue within the framework provided by state code.
Tiffany Russell, City of Virginia Beach spokesperson