Town Orders Clean Up at 5 Vacant New City Homes

Clarkstown has ordered the clean up of five vacant residential properties in New City and two in West Nyack after the owners have failed to perform basic maintenance, according to town officials.

The Town Board approved a measure Tuesday night that would have town workers clean up the properties, with the cost of the work being tagged onto the property tax bill for those homes. The property owners have until this weekend to clean up the properties themselves.

Clarkstown Code and Zoning Enforcement Officer Joel J. Epstein said the town has been receiving complaints from neighbors of homes that are vacant through foreclosure, a death or abandonment. He said these homes become more noticeable during the spring and summer as grass and weeds grow out of control.

The residential properties cited are:

73 W. Burda Place, New City

56 Burda Lane, New City

3 Penn Court, New City

1 Frost Court, New City

12 Moreland Road, New City

134 Strawtown Road, West Nayck

85 Van Houten Fields, West Nyack.

While most of the properties involved are long existing residence, Epstein said the 56 Burda Lane site has a newly constructed home that has not been occupied. At 85 Van Houten Fields, the town is considering hiring an outside contract to handle the clean up because of construction debris that is also on the property.

Most of the clean up work on properties cited by the done is done by crews from the town Recreation and Parks Department. Epstein noted the town prefers if the work is done by the property owner or real estate agents connected to the property because the town Rec & Parks crews are already busy working on getting town parks and pools ready for the summer season.