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September 24, 2007

Desperate in Stuy Heights: No One To Clean Up

stuymess0907.jpg
On the heels of last week's post about unwanted circulars and menus that end up on stoops and in doorways, we got an email from a Stuyvesant Heights resident who wondering about what to do about mess in front of an unoccupied building.

Everyone has heard of homeowners who get a ticket for the potato chip bag that has drifted in front of their house while they are at work, so why won't the Department of Sanitation do anything about the eyesore that is 375 Stuyvesant Avenue? The building has been empty and "available" for many months now, and the maintenance is basically nonexistent. The two surrounding sidewalks (it's a corner building) are strewn with plastic bags, junk food wrappers, month-old circulars, beer and liquor bottles, Chinese takeout containers, etc. People have abandoned tires there, obviously thinking it's a mini dump. For the past week and a half there has been broken beer and vodka bottle strewn across a good portion of the sidewalk. I have called 311 repeatedly for months now, and kept track of every complaint number. When I call to follow up, they tell me that an inspector has gone out but no violation issued. They even told me an inspector went out the day the pictures below were taken. I also called one of the brokers listed so prominently on the Massey Knakal sign, and he basically told me it's not his problem (which I find amazing, because you'd think he has a stake in making the building look presentable at the very least).

What to do?




Posted by Brownstoner at 11:19 AM | Comments (15)
Categories: Bedford Stuyvesant, Quality of Life

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Comments

Sweep up the stuff yourself and dump it in front of the realtor's office?

Posted by: guest at September 24, 2007 12:04 PM

I just emailed this posting to the two top name partners (Massey and Knakel) and politely suggested that it would be worth a few bucks to send out a crew. Perhaps original complainant could let us know if anything happens?

Posted by: guest at September 24, 2007 12:08 PM

This building is really a shame. I have picked up garbage from time to time when I pass by, but it's not enough to help really. Even worse is that it's a landmarked building, and should be better taken care of.

Posted by: guest at September 24, 2007 12:08 PM

First off, I would just clean it up myself.. I do a trash clean up, up and down my street about once a month on top of cleaning up in front of my house and my neighbors' homes on either side of me. But I would also pursue the problem with 311 and the DOB.

I checked the DOB website. There are no complaints even listed, which means yours are not even being registered with the D.O.B. This is a problem. Make sure when you call 311 to tell them the trash is spilling over onto the sidewalk from the building... They will issue a ticket for that...also get your neighbors to call. You may want to call the D.O.B directly.

I would also contact the owner directly. I checked the records online and it looks the current owner is either Ms. English. Her info is listed below:

JOSEPHINE ENGLISH
1275 PRESIDENT STREET
BROOKLYN NY 11213

You may need the following info to follow up:

Block: 1686
Lot: 6

Posted by: CrownGardener at September 24, 2007 12:19 PM

SOMEbody owns this building! The city needs to issue violations to the owner! It does not matter whether they live there or not, they are responsible just the same as anybody else for cleaning up the garbage on the sidewalks. Where is it written if an owner does not live in the building, he is not responsible for the same duties as everyone else?? Nowhere is that written. We're all issued violations if garbage is outside our homes. Why doesn't this guy get any? It seems corrupt. This makes me wonder who is getting paid off here.

Posted by: guest at September 24, 2007 12:24 PM

Original complainant here....12:08: Thanks, great idea. We'll see if anyone at Massey Knakal cares about the state of their properties. I'll definitely let you know if anything changes.

12:19: Thanks for the info. I am very clear when I call 311 as to the state of the building, sidewalks, etc. It may come down to contacting the owner personally, but it seems a sanitation violation would speak louder. This owner knows the rules and doesn't need a reminder from me, but maybe a reminder in the form of a ticket(s) would do something. I'll also follow up on the DOB aspect. If I ever saw the owner I would say something in person, but no one is ever there.

And just to add, I have often picked up garbage here. But this is a bigger issue that really demands the attention of the owner.

Posted by: guest at September 24, 2007 12:39 PM

OP,
I pointed out the trash spilling off the sidewalk as a way to get a ticket issued more quickly. 311 distinguishes b/w what they tell the DOB and what they tell sanitation.. If it's spilling out of the building onto the sidewalk, Sanitation will issue the ticket... and they are speadier than the DOB... (at least this has been my experience with a derelict building on my block) so it may get your problem addressed more quickly once the tickets pile up and the owner has to pay... Good luck

Posted by: CrownGardener at September 24, 2007 12:59 PM

A couple observations:
1. Litter is not a DOB violation, so it shouldn't be any surprise the complaints are not showing up on the agency's website.
2. If complainant has saved all the 311 tracking numbers, I suggest calling Community Board 3 (718.622.6601) and asking them to follow up.

Posted by: g man at September 24, 2007 1:05 PM

I've always found calls to 311 to be more fruitful if I innocently mention having seen rats amidst the garbage. Honest? No, but highly effective at getting a sanitation crew to respond.

Posted by: guest at September 24, 2007 1:49 PM

sometimes you can't really blame the owners. when i brought my building it was a messup. even i clean it every day folks stilled use it as as dumping ground till i got camera installed. i caught a few neighbors doing the dumping.

Posted by: guest at September 24, 2007 2:09 PM

Complaints should be made directly to the Sanitation Dept. If you wait for 311, you will wait forever. Sanitation will send an inspector out and issue a ticket.

Posted by: guest at September 24, 2007 2:54 PM

Is the owner keeping up the building itself or is it also showing signs of neglect? If this is really a landmarked neighborhood and the building is showing signs of neglect, you could call the Landmarks Commission to come and issue a summons. That might also be a wake up call to the owner.

Posted by: guest at September 24, 2007 10:23 PM

WOW. This is some story. I was issued 3 tickets within a couple of weeks right after I closed on a building and before I even visited it with my contractor. THREE violations. For what? I plastic cup cover. A piece of styrofoam about the size of a candy bar. And a candy bar wrapper.

I actually tried to fight the violations, and went before one of their little "judge" people (very fair, they all work for the same agency). Nope, had to pay. $150 EACH.

Okay, now I find out that there are buildings where inspectors refuse to ticket?

GRRRR.

Posted by: guest at September 25, 2007 10:02 AM

Maybe the owner is in capcipated.... elderly person etc....

Posted by: guest at September 27, 2007 7:15 PM

umm "quit bitchin' and pitch-in"? Seriously, this person should just spend 30 minutes and clean it up themselves. If it's your neighborhood and it bothers you, then it's as much your job as anyone's to do something about it.

Posted by: guest at September 30, 2007 5:08 PM

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