This house on St. Mary’s Avenue in Rosebank is shown as the top half of the roof leans on the house door. Occupants still live there, despite a violation from the building department.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The city Department of Buildings has deemed a two-story Rosebank residence an “immediate hazard” because its roof is touching the wall of the house next door.
Despite the presence of tenants in both structures — and the issuance of a violation indicating the situation “pose(s) danger for people living (there)” — DOB has given the owner of the leaning house, at 176 St. Mary’s Pl., until March 6 to comply with making necessary repairs so that it no longer touches 174 St. Mary’s Pl.
That’s the date owner Leticia McLeod has to attend an Environmental Control Board hearing.
While a Jan. 15 DOB violation indicates the owner’s “failure to maintain building in code compliant manner,” the violation does not include a penalty fee.
A DOB spokeswoman could not immediately say why tenants would be permitted to remain in both houses if an immediate hazard was deemed to exist.
A Department of Buildings spokeswoman could not immediately say why tenants would be permitted to remain in both houses if an immediate hazard was deemed to exist.
Nor could she say whether DOB field personnel had spoken to Ms. McLeod.
Ms. McLeod could not be reached for comment.
But the owner of the house at 174 St. Mary’s Pl., Mohammed Loukzadeh, said he’d like to see the situation resolved as soon as possible.
“I called 911 for help,” said Loukzadeh. “I tried to get in touch with the owner, but she wouldn’t speak with me. I think everyone is turning a blind eye to it. That house is tilting toward my house. I have two tenants I have to think of. I have to resolve this issue for them.”
A neighbor who asked not to be quoted by name said the house has been leaning since last year, and had “gotten worse” since the fall.
Meanwhile, Ms. McLeod’s ground-floor tenant said she didn’t notice that the house she was about to move into was leaning when she took residence there a few months ago. She said she is more worried about the possibility of being evicted, if the property is deemed a hazard, than any safety concerns because she has a limited income and relocating would pose a financial hardship.
A for sale sign is stuck in the front yard of the leaning house. Jayne Realty is listed as the broker. A phone mail connected to the agency was not accepting messages.
City records indicate Ms. McLeod owns another house in Rosebank.
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