Paterson homeowner Jose De la Cruz has been battling various issues within his property, including cracked walls, leaks, mold, and rodents. He believes the root cause of these problems is the abandoned property connected to his home at 887 Madison Ave. The front and backyard of the abandoned property are covered in trash, while overgrown shrubbery attracts wild animals and homeless individuals sometimes sleep on the porch.
After reaching out to the city’s inspector’s office multiple times without success, De la Cruz enlisted the help of his brother-in-law Javier Garcia. They are both concerned about the impact that the neglected neighboring property is having on their family’s health and safety. Garcia shared an incident where a raccoon fell through the ceiling onto a child’s bed. They are determined to improve their own home’s appearance but are hindered by the neglect of the adjacent property which is devaluing their entire neighborhood.
In response to this situation, city officials including Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh have vowed to take action to assess and possibly condemn the property. If necessary, they will work to clean up and secure it in order to enhance the quality of life for residents in the neighborhood. The city is prepared to go as far as seizing the property if needed in order to address blight and safety concerns in the area.
De la Cruz has tried unsuccessfully to address issues of rainwater entering his home due to poor maintenance of adjacent property but he remains determined to find a solution. The city officials have acknowledged that it is important for them to take action on this matter promptly and ensure that residents can live comfortably in their homes without fear or worry about potential hazards from neighboring properties.
