Owners' Night Offers Tips To Landlords

Scores of Ridgewood residents came to I.S. 93 last Thursday, Sept. 4 voicing their questions and concerns to city officials attending an Owners' Night forum sponsored by the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and City Council Member Diana Reyna. Finding answers to common questions faced by landlords and property owners was the focus of an Owners' Night session hosted by the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association during their Sept. 4 meeting at I.S. 93.

The program, sponsored by the civic group along with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and City Council Member Diana Reyna, brought representatives of various city agencies to address concerns raised by residents including tree pruning, property disputes and loans for seniors.

Among the city officials on hand for the event were Brunilda Rodriguez, David Schmid, Pam Glaser, Dolores Morrow and Selwin Louison of the HPD; Jay Castro, outreach specialist for the Sanitation Department; Anthony Pollicino of the Department of Buildings; Robert Roman of the Department of Finance; Elias Akeredolu of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Kimberly Crewe of the Department of Transportation; and Shawn Maerz of the Parks Department.

Trouble with trees

Falling limbs and dead trees were among some of the concerns levied by property owners who implored the Parks Department to increase tree pruning in the area of their homes.

One resident stated that a tree standing in front of her home has been progressively dying with limbs from the dead side in danger of falling onto her property. Despite numerous calls to the city's 311 hotline, no workers have visited the location.

Anthony Salvatore of Catalpa Avenue added that a large limb has been dangling off of a tree in front of his home. He asked the Parks Department to investigate the situation and have the broken limb removed.

Maerz, who is deputy director of the Parks Department's Queens Forestry office, noted that agency recently completed tree pruning in the Board 5 area. Under city law, each community district is slated for pruning every seven years.

Though the trees should have been included among those pruned in the area, Maerz acknowledged that it may have been overlooked. He advised the resident to call his office so a tree inspector could be dispatched to investigate the situation.

RPOCA President Paul Kerzner noted that the organization's board of directors is in the process of drafting proposed legislation to be submitted to the mayor and City Council to provide property owners with tax credits to have trees pruned on their own. The proposal would also provide credits for homeowners for sidewalk replacement in the event the concrete is damaged by tree roots.

Driveway shared by business

A residential party driveway allegedly being used for commercial purposes by a next-door neighbor had one Ridgewood resident fuming. The resident noted that a business created next to her home has been constantly parking and moving vehicles through the easement she shares with the premises.

"They even had contractors coming in and out of the garage at all hours of the day and night," the resident said. "Everybody had access to that property; it's not private property anymore."

Pollicino, plan examiner for the DOB, stated that any misuse of an easement shared by two separate property owners is a civil matter that would most likely be settled in civil court. He noted that the owner may also file a complaint with the Buildings Department to investigate the matter further.

"If they have commercial vehicles parked in the easement in the residential zone, then you can call the Buildings Department and put in a complaint," he said.

Senior loans for homes

Predatory lenders have forced numerous homeowners throughout the city into foreclosure, and Council Member Reyna reminded any senior property owner that there are options available through the city to purchase or refinance a home.

"Homeowners are seeking predatory lending rather than appropriate lending that fits their needs," she said.

Morrow, HPD senior loan director, noted that seniors who are at least 60 years old and occupy a home between one to four units are eligible to receive a loan at little or no interest. These residents must also have property and liability insurance and live on a fixed income between $59,600 for a one-person household and $76,000 for a threeperson household.

Other property owners facing in danger of losing their homes may also seek the counsel of several nonprofit foreclosure prevention groups, added Glaser, an HPD foreclosure prevention specialist. One such group, the Neighborhood Housing Services of Woodside, specializes in helping property owners young and old apply for affordable, low-interest loans to renovate their homes.

Homeless invade apt. house

Vagrants have been spotted loitering on the roof and inside a multifamily home on Madison Street, according to local resident Kamil Dabkowski. He stated that the homeless residents use the location during overnight hours for shelter, adding that a number of hypodermic needs allegedly used by the trespassers have also been found.

Schmid noted that trespassing on property is a crime, and he advised the resident to contact police immediately to report any individuals found loitering on site. He added that the HPD also provides free security screenings to help property owners safeguard their homes.

Construction headache

A resident of 71st Avenue complained that ongoing construction at the former site of a knitting mill on 60th Lane being converted into condominiums have left his backyard covered in debris.

Kerzner noted that the RPOCA tried in 2006 to gain the support of the community in its bid to thwart construction of the condominium complex, scheduling a public meeting on the project. Though flyers were distributed to homeowners on 71st Avenue and other surrounding blocks, just a handful of residents turned out for the event.

"[We] distributed 200 flyers to every property owner within three blocks from that site," he said. "Clearly, we didn't win. And we didn't win because 196 said 'I don't give a rat's ass.' Now you're stuck with it. We fought what we could, but we didn't get community support."

Akeredolu asked the resident to contact the city's 311 hotline so Health Department inspectors can arrange to visit the property to determine if any of the debris is hazardous to public health. Property owners who improperly remove hazardous material from buildings are subject to fines by the city.

Trash along rail line

Open box cars containing household waste stored along a rail line in Ridgewood have left nearby homeowners exposed to foul odors, according to a 65th Place resident. She stated that the cars have periodically been parked along the CSX rail line near Mafera Park for several hours at a time.

The resident stated that the smell emanating from the storage cars have been strong enough to keep her windows closed during daytime hours. She added that she cannot operate her air conditioner since the device pulls in the noxious fumes with the cooler air.

Kerzner stated that the cars are being operated under the jurisdiction of New York and Atlantic Railway and the Long Island Rail Road.

The company shipping the trash has also been contacted in an effort to have the odiferous waste concealed.