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Concerned neighbors of three empty, dilapidated buildings sitting on 51st and 52nd Streets off of Ninth Avenue say the structures create an unsanitary and unsafe environment.

"A lot of homeless under here sleeping. A lot of garbage. The construction here has been going on for a year, I don't know what's going on," says neighbor Dr. Nicolas Fennelli.

Residents say the buildings, formerly owned by St. Vincent's Medical Center, were sold to a developer two years ago and have sat empty for the past several months after demolition crews came in and gutted them.

"Every window was either broken or open, the weather blew through during the winter months and now in the summer months there's standing water inside the building," says neighbor Jay Nelson. "I know that there's pigeons and rats inside the buildings and I believe that there are homeless people that have moved into these buildings and have set up encampments inside the buildings and also under the construction shed here."

"Cars trying to get by, pedestrians trying to cross to the other side so they're avoiding the scaffolding and stuff like that. I think that a lot of people are really being impacted," says neighbor Karla Castro.

After numerous failed attempts to get the city to take action, residents called NY1 For You. NY1 then found that the property is owned by Tessler Developments.

NY1 reached out to Tessler but they refused to comment on the condition of their buildings.

The station then called the Department of Health and a spokesperson said they have no complaints on file for the property. However, the spokesperson did say the agency will send an inspector out to check the site.

It comes not a moment too soon for neighbors who say they want their street returned to its original condition.

NY1 will continue to follow this story.

If you'd like "NY1 For You" to look into a problem, call our 24-hour helpline at 212-379-3599 or send an email to ny1foryou@ny1.com.