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07/12/2011 08:00 PM

NY1 For You: Vacant Harlem Lot Treated As A Dumping Ground

By: Susan Jhun

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A vacant lot in Harlem has residents anxiously wondering when construction will take place to improve its hazardous conditions. NY1's Susan Jhun filed the following NY1 For You report.

A huge vacant lot on East 126th Street is supposed to be under construction, but neighbors say instead it has become a large dumping ground for just about everything.

"You can see a TV or AC or chairs or some shoes over there. It's disgusting," says one resident.

"I've seen mattresses dumped over there, garbage," says another.

Frustrated neighbors say the lot has been in a neglected condition for years, with no signs of any development.

"It's definitely an eyesore to the street. It takes away parking spaces for us," a local says. "I have to put my car in a garage because, as you can see, it takes up about 10 to 15, 20 spots on the street."

After residents contacted NY1, the station found the lot has been on the Department of Buildings Stalled Sites List since 2009.

NY1 called the owner, RCGL 125th Street LLC, for comment but has not heard back.

The station did get in contact with the contractor, Ross Associates LLC. The project manager said the contractor would be starting construction soon, but when NY1 asked when, he said he didn't know.

The manager also said the contractor was waiting for the owner to tell how to proceed with the property. He also said he would check out the condition of the site and get back to NY1.

In the meantime, long-time residents and recent arrivals, are eager to get rid of the littered lot.

"Everyone over here is rebuilding this neighborhood. They're renovating their homes and trying to clean up 126th," says one local.

"I moved here because it's getting better and to know that that massive, massive space is not doing anything is just disheartening," says another.

NY1 For You will continue to follow this story.

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