Property on 92nd Street between 156th and 157th avenues is often plagued with graffiti, neighbors said.
Forum Photo
For years, Howard Beach residents on 92nd Street said they have dealt with a piece of property that has become an eyesore to all those around it – and the neighbors said they are more than fed up with the site that is often plagued by graffiti, weeds, and trash.
“We all keep our property well, we pay taxes, and this is what we get?” asked one neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from the owner.
The owner of the property, Panzarella Realty, could not be reached for comment. Several of the numbers listed for the realty company were out of order, and no one picked up at the one working number after The Forum attempted to call it numerous times throughout the week.
Neighbors said they have approached the owner about the property, but no improvements at the site have come.
“You got branches all over, and now the grass is getting so high that who knows what’s going to come there,” one resident said.
“On occasion, they’ll mow it, but the grass is much too high to mow now,” he continued.
A neighbor added that the site “looks like a dump, so people treat it like a dump.”
One neighbor said that because the spot “looks like a dump,” that people treat it as such. Recently, this shopping cart filled with wood was left at the site. Forum Photo
Recently, a shopping cart filled with wood appeared at the site – which was then carted away by the city Department of Sanitation.
Residents said they expect to soon create a petition to urge the owner of the site to take care of the property.
“I’m here three years, and it’s always been like that,” one resident said of the longstanding problems. “All our homes are well maintained, and yet we have to look across the street at this?”
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park) vowed to help the residents in their struggle to clean up the site.
“It’s always disappointing when property owners don’t maintain their property, and it’s unfortunate that neighbors are plagued with unkempt lawns, graffiti, and random trash,” Goldfeder said. “I will personally reach out to the property owner and urge him to clean it. If we don’t see results, I’ll happily go out and clean it up myself. It’s unacceptable.”
By Anna Gustafson
