“It’s an attractive nuisance,” Public Safety Commissioner Ronald Kim said. “It’s an eyesore and dangerous. Something has to be done about it.”

The building on the property was found to be in disrepair and a violation of state and city codes, becoming a blight danger to the public, said City Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Veitch. He added that the Department of Environmental Conservation took legal action against the property owners, Crown Oil #1 Incorporated based in New York City, after cleaning up contamination on the property years ago. 

After finding that structure on the property was in violation of more than one state code, a court order was given to Crown Oil to clean up the site, or attach a $1,000 fine per violation for every

day that the property goes untouched.

“No maintenance has been done to prevent deterioration, and there is no form of water drainage from the roof. I don’t know how much longer the structure can stand on its own,” Veitch said.

Early next week, Veitch will get a court order signed to have Crown Oil begin the demolition of the structure and clearing the property. He said the city is working with Crown Oil to look into pricing of contractors to remedy the violations.

“I don’t expect it to take more than 30 days to get the property cleared once the court order is signed,” he said.

Right now, it is unclear what will be done with the property, but there are talks that it could become a green space or eventually a turning lane heading south on Broadway.  “The city has looked into a possible purchase of the property to preserve as open space under the Open Space Preserve Act, but no one should be talking about plans for the property until it is cleaned up,” Kim said. “That is our main concern right now.”