A reader contacted Public Eye regarding several properties in North Western that are an “eyesore.”
“The folks on the right side of the street are trying to keep up appearances, but the left side is an eyesore and danger,” the reader wrote.
The details
Three of the properties are on the south side of Route 46 in the town of Western.
The first is the Halfway House bar at 9921 State Route 46. The porch and building is “falling down” and the shutters are “falling off,” the reader wrote.
The front of the house appears rundown and has paint peeling, however, it looks like work is being done.
Two other properties are at the intersection of State Route 46 and Mill Street. They appear to be abandoned, although they are not completely boarded up.
The future
Richard Barth is the owner of the Halfway House, according to the Town Assessor’s Office, but he could not be reached for comment.
The other two properties seem to be in limbo.
The addresses on the houses appear as 9905 and 9911 State Route 46, but the Town Assessor’s Office was unable to locate the property at 9911. Instead, it appeared to be filed as 9913, said Sandra Van Knowe, one of the town’s part-time assessors.
The parcel is listed as belonging to Leroy Siegel, she said. A phone number could not be found for Siegel, and calls to a number listed in the phone book for the address were not returned.
The parcel at 9905 is listed as belonging to Barbara and Allen Smolinski, Van Knowe said. “I think they’ve been trying to fix it up for a long time now,” she said.
Calls to a Barbara Smolinski, as listed in the phone book, were not returned.
Robert Hoke, the town zoning enforcement officer and building inspector, did not return calls for comment.
Have an issue?
Reporter Keshia Clukey investigates neighborhood complaints each week and reports the findings. If something is broken or neglected in your neighborhood, tip off “Public Eye” by sending an e-mail with a thorough description of the problem to news@uticaod.com, with “Public Eye” in the subject line. Letters also can be sent to “Public Eye,” Observer-Dispatch, 221 Oriskany Plaza, Utica, NY 13501.