Rat-Filled Washington Heights Lot Needs A Cleanup, City Says

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — The city filed a lawsuit on Tuesday for an emergency clean-up of a rat-infested and trash-laden vacant lot in Washington Heights, according to court documents.

The lot in question does not have an official address, but is described by the city as adjacent to 671 West 187th Street, which is between Broadway and Wadsworth avenues.

A recent report by an employee of the Department of Sanitation found that the conditions of the lot are "conducive to rat harborage and/or rats exist on the subject premises."

The lot has been inspected on multiple occasions, including on March 25, after which a DSNY inspector reported finding "gnawed plastic bags."

The lawsuit states that these conditions "compromise the public health, safety, and welfare."

On March 4, the city sent a letter to the owner of the lot saying that it needed their consent to enter the lot, and also for them to unlock a front gate, the lawsuit states.

However, the owner has not responded, according to the lawsuit.

Thus, the city has filed a petition in the New York State Supreme Court to gain entry to the lot and properly clean it.

Here is what the Washington Heights vacant lot looks like from the outside.

In terms of the history of the lot, Google Maps shows boarded-up houses at the address in 2014.

Going back a few more years to 2011, it appears there were houses with residents, but one of them was completely covered with ivy.