Myrtle Beach property manager hopes to stop crime at “Yellow House”

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The property manager of a downtown boardinghouse notorious for crime is trying to clean up what’s being called a “nuisance” by Horry County prosecutors.

The house is called the “Yellow House,” even though it’s now light blue. It’s at 407 5th Avenue North and it’s infamous for drugs, prostitution and fights.

Rayfield Robinson became property manager of the house in August. He was homeless when he moved there with his girlfriend, after coming to Myrtle Beach from Wilmington. 

Robinson says he wants to make it clear that crime will not be tolerated.

“I’m looking at the place like, ‘Man, this is a good place,'” he said. “We’re right here on the beach. So I wondered why people wanted to destroy it.”

The 15th Circuit Solicitor is trying to shut down “Yellow House.” For the second time in three years, prosecutors are calling it a public nuisance. A court summons filed Tuesday says that “acts and conduct which occur on the premises are offensive to public decency, morals, peace, health, and constitute a public nuisance.”

The Myrtle Beach Police Department says it’s been called to the house 213 times so far this year. According to the summons, emergency crews used Narcan to revive people overdosing on drugs five of those times.

Robinson says he’s trying to stop criminals in the neighborhood from coming to his house.

“We can’t do anything about the area,” he said. “The area’s going to be what it is, but on this property, that’s a whole ‘nother story.”

Robinson has posted signs outside for new house rules.

“This is no longer the ‘Yellow House,'” he said, reading one of the signs. “Now, under new management, 407 is now the ‘Blue House.’

“I will do whatever I have to just to keep this place from going back down.”

Robinson is also instituting a curfew for residents and guests.

“10 p.m. to 8 (a.m.),” he said. “If you’re not a guest, you got to get off the property at 10 o’clock.”

Robinson says he wants to help people addicted to drugs and, maybe one day, turn the house known for crime into one for recovery.

“This is my home, as well as my job, and I’m going to fight for it,” said Robinson.

The lawyer who works with the 15th Circuit Solicitor on nuisance cases says the house is technically a business since rooms are rented.

We usually hear about nuisance business cases, but the lawyer also says this is the first nuisance case against a home in Horry County.