Residents angry over 'eyesores'

A half-dozen unsightly properties were the primary subject of a nearly 90-minute Village of Cedarhurst meeting on July 12, as several residents made their way to the lectern to vent about absentee landlords and conditions at those sites.

One residential parcel was described as a transfer station for commercial equipment, but complaints about the other five properties focused on possible criminal activity, recurring noise at odd hours and unkempt conditions.

One agenda item was a continuing discussion concerning 440 Fifth Ave., where property owner Ross Marasco was accused by a neighboring couple — Pete and Sue Maltese — of operating a transfer station for his contracting business. "He has used this as a transfer station," said Sue Maltese after her husband presented several photos to the village board.

Marasco disagreed vehemently with the Malteses' assertion. "I don't dump material —my aunt lives here," he said, insisting that what the Malteses described as "guys hanging around" was "a lot of exaggeration."

This site was cleaned up recently, according to Sal Evola, the village's clerk-treasurer.

A pair of parcels at 467 and 469 Cedarhurst Ave. were also the subject of discussion, with several residents complaining about everything from mysterious activity in the middle of the night waking neighbors to garbage strewn about, frequent visits by police and ambulances and overgrown weeds and grass.

One resident, who declined to be identified, said, "To see this eyesore is ridiculous."

"What landlord rents to this low type of people?" asked resident Jeffrey Thaler. "Can't you rent to nice people?"

Interior inspections made after the meeting determined that no one was living in the basement of one of the buildings, as residents claimed, and as of July 16 the property had been cleaned up, Evola said.

Noting that inspections of these and other properties must be made, since this is a quality-of-life issue, Trustee Ari Brown said, "Even if it's Friday night or Yom Kippur, you have to call the cops," adding that the Nassau County Police Department's 4th Precinct is responsive.

Village Code Enforcement visited another parcel, at 225 Linwood Ave., on July 16, and Evola said that tree limbs on the property were cleared by the village at no charge.

With more than a few neighbors registering complaints about 550 Lincoln Ave., cleanup had begun there, Evola said, adding that a letter had been sent to the landlord prior to the meeting. Landscaping improvements were expected to be performed at another property, at 533 Bayview Ave., according to Evola.

"These are ongoing investigations," he said. "If there is a failure to maintain or perform the cleanup, we will assess that."

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