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MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. – City Council members Richard Thomas and Deborah Reynolds are still at odds over taking down four dilapidated buildings on the south side of Mount Vernon.
Thomas said he wants the buildings taken down immediately but Reynolds said that she wants to make sure the owners of the properties in question are in favor of demolition beforehand, so the city isn't sued.
The City Council voted on July 26 to notify the owners of the four properties that they were going to be torn down because they were an “immediate danger” to the community. Still, Corporation Counsel Nichelle Johnson said when you issue a notice to the homeowners and wait for them to respond, it hurts the city’s argument that the buildings are in “immediate danger.”
“The bottom line is that we want to take them down but we don’t want to get into a back-and-forth with the property owners,” Johnson said. “The law department is well-positioned to facilitate taking the buildings down and engage in litigation if it comes forth.”
Thomas said he is unhappy with the “bureaucratic process” that is slowing down the demolition of the buildings.
“The winter is only going to invite bad activity around these buildings,” Thomas said. “Look at our city in the past few months. We are not being reckless here, we are doing the people’s work.”
Reynolds said the city can’t afford a lawsuit since it doesn’t have much money in the general fund, adding that if the city operates this way it will always get sued.
“We have city-owned properties that are falling in,” Reynolds said. “This is taking interest into someone else’s home that probably pays insurance on it. We can be sued. We should look at ourselves before tearing down other people’s property.”
Johnson said that the buildings will probably be demolished by the end of the year, though no date for demolition has been scheduled.
Comments (4)
I remember n old lady who once lived in that home. She was sch a special lady! She had me to come over to her home to wash all of her windows. This was in 1985. I am quite sure she has since passed on! I believe that she was the owner of that home.
I understand Ms. Reyolds point! We as city don't need to be sued over stupidness. The homeowners of those no good homes will profit off of the backs of the hard working tax paying citizens of Mount Vernon, and it wouldn't be fare. Sometimes we just have to be a bit patient and wait for the outcome.
It is important to note that during this same public City Council meeting, corporation counsel and chief of staff to the Mayor Nichelle Johnson conceded that, “as a matter of law, [Councilman Richard Thomas] is correct.” The City does not need to give notice to knock down unsafe and dangerous properties. Despite this fact, bureaucratic forces remain opposed to tearing down these monstrosities. The time has come to people first, not politics. I urge the Mayor and Buildings Commissioner to demolish the three abandoned, dangerous and unsafe properties that remain in contention. Further delay is an invitation for something bad to happen to the innocent children and families that live next to this mess.
IF THE HOMES HAVE BEEN EMPTY FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND THE OWNER HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THEN THE CITY HAS THE RIGHT TO HANDLE THEIR BUSINESS. THESE BUILDINGS PROBABLY HAVE ALL KINDS OF BUGS IN THEM AND THEY DEFINITELY MAKE A NEIGHBORHOOD LOOK BAD.