Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder shares a laugh with residents who swarmed the Assemblyman with thanks and praise for his swift resolution to a problem that had plagued them for years. Patricia Adams/The Forum Newsgroup
Just one week after we told you about the blight of a group of Ozone Park residents dealing with squatters, drug deals and prostitutes at a vacant home on their street, the homeowners are breathing a collective sigh of relief.
“It’s amazing,” said resident Susan Gutierrez who lives across the street from the property. “That we are finally rid of this.” She and other neighbors praised the efforts of Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder, who came in and requested the house be condemned and demanded resolution from the city along with The Forum for being the only community newspaper to join the Assemblyman in his efforts. “It makes a big difference when people really care about doing their jobs and helping their community.”
Area councilman Eric Ulrich shared residents’ enthusiasm. “I am absolutely thrilled that these people have been relieved of this dangerous situation,” said the Councilman. “After all this time they have gotten the results they deserve.”
For years the neighbors have been concerned and complaining about the conditions of the house, squatters who were stealing their utilities, obvious drug deals taking place, drug paraphernalia strewn about and suspected acts of prostitution around and inside the house.
Letters sent to the Department of Buildings (DOB) and the NYPD from Goldfeder and a front-page story in The Forum sent the wheels spinning and brought the DOB in conjunction with the NYPD and Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) down to the area to assess the situation. The property was condemned and squatters were evicted.
Workers sealed every window and door including the garage in order to prevent reentry from vagrants and drug dealers.
“This is a huge victory for our residents in Ozone Park,” said Goldfeder. “I want to thank the Forum newspaper for being a strong community partner and remaining on the forefront of this issue until it was resolved. I applaud the Department of Buildings, NYPD and other agencies involved for listening to the concerns of the community and taking immediate corrective action to help keep our residents safe.”
Although property records indicate the taxes are almost completely up to date, the owner of record is incarcerated and the property has fallen into severe disrepair. For nearly five years, the structure has presented an otherwise picturesque block on a secluded cul-de-sac with boarded-up windows and an unkempt appearance.
A look inside the house as work crews prepared the premises, provided evidence of the disrepair. Missing floors boards and crumbling walls; garbage strewn across the space. Bags of clothing and sneakers spilled out into the middle of the rooms and there was a very offensive odor from the house. Evidence of squatters was found in rolled up recent newspapers, coffee cups and fast food wrappers.
On the porch bags of cement, sheets of plywood and rolls of wire lathe waited for laborers mixing cement to seal the house. And after a physical intervention that spanned nearly three days, the house and garage were neatly sealed up, concrete built up over windows and doors to prevent entry to the home.
Now Goldfeder says he will work on the next phase of the project. “I will work with the bank to determine proper ownership and hopefully allow for the home to be used once again,” said Goldfeder. “I am proud that this important quality of life issue for our hard working families in Ozone Park was resolved and now they can finally receive the peace of mind they deserve.”
By Patricia Adams
