Pocono News Section

Porch Collapse Latest Chapter in Blighted Property

Porch Collapse Latest Chapter in Blighted Property - Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 11:41PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Tuesday, Jul 1, 2008 @ 11:41pm EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Neighbors say both 51 and 53 Forrest Street are a nightmares.

"It's just been falling apart. Pigeons have moved in," next door neighbor Rich Miller said.

Most call the double block home a pigeon motel. The birds were everywhere: the roof, windowsills, inside windows... "There's at least 30, 40 pigeons we see sitting everyday on the roof, which is making a mess of our property," Miller said.

Miller said no one has lived there for at least the last year. The porch collapsed into the front yard on Sunday. Neighbors said the property is ruining their community. They're critical of the city's response. Neil Chapman, a neighbor, said he filed complaints two years ago. He said nothing was ever done.

A city spokesman said they have notified the home's owner in writing. We're told they have ten days to respond. If the owner fails to address the situation, the city can come in and remove the collapsed debris.

Eyewitness News tracked down the owner through online courthouse records. By phone Tuesday evening, Catherine Hnatin told us she inherited the double block from her father and that it's been a nightmare for her. She also said she didn't know where Wilkes-Barre was. The phone book indicated her address was outside of Philadelphia.

One neighbor put it "They better do something about it, we don't need it here."