Pocono News Section

I-Team: Bakery Owner Ignores Blighted Homes

I-Team: Bakery Owner Ignores Blighted Homes - Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 6:18PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Thursday, Sep 27, 2007 @06:18pm EST
PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY --It's the place to go in Pittston for bread and Italian favorites but you may be shocked to see how a reputable businessman -- keeps his other properties. Angelo Parente has been on the city's radar for a year. A code officer tells WBRE News he has called him, written him, even cited him but Parente hasn't repaired the blighted properties.

“Would you please leave?” That’s the question an employee of Parente’s Food Center and Bakery asked as he pushed reporter Jeff Chirico and photographer Lonnie Miller out the door. The business owner Angelo Parente owns three blighted properties in Pittston. Neighbor Mike Narsavage says "its an eyesore. It’s falling apart." Narsavage lives near Parente’s property a 1-3-5 Miller Street. The steps are falling apart. There are open doors, and open windows. The chimney fell off during the last storm and the gutters are about to as well. Overgrown weeds are causing problems too. "There are reports of animals, skunks, rats," says city code officer Greg Gulick.

The backyard of a 34-40 Fear Street looks like a forest. The façade is crumbling too. At 50-52 Elizabeth Street there are broken doors, broken windows and a leaking roof. Neighbor Donny Evans worries for his daughter's safety. And to make it worse, he says people live inside. Evans says "there's a couple males who work for the owner of the building." Gulick says he first notified Parente of code violations a year ago but nothing has been done.

Jeff Chirico asks Gulick "how big of a problem property owner is he?” Gulick responds “I have three citations issued for him." Parente has ignored each one. A warrant was issued last week and next week he has a hearing before the district magistrate."

After being thrown out of the bakery, we catch a glimpse of Parente peeking out the door. We ask an employee to speak with him but she tells us "he just doesn't want to speak to you." But neighbors and city officials don't care if he speaks. They just want the three places fixed up or torn down.

Evans says "he owns a bakery. They said their food's excellent and look at their property."

Parente's hearing is scheduled for October 3 at 10:30am at the district justice at Pittston City Hall. City officials encourage neighbors who live near these properties to attend.