Blighted property creates safety hazard on North Fifth

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Part of the sidewalk along North Fifth Street was blocked off with caution tape this afternoon due to a loose dormer window in imminent danger of falling. The property in question is at 119 North Fifth and is considered to be blighted. It has been vacant for months. Until the situation is resolved, pedestrians will be forced to walk onto the highway to get around the property.

The borough has recently taken steps to reduce the number of such properties under several new programs which Columbia Spy will review in the near future.


 Caution tape blocks the sidewalk at 119 N. 5th

The house is one of many blighted properties in the borough.

A loose window, precariously perched, creates a safety hazard.

Comments

Anonymous said…
The downspout is interesting...
February 14, 2017 at 8:51 PM
Anonymous said…
Just think of what kind of wildlife the new owner will find. Squirrels, pigeons,mice, and what else. Unbelievable that people can own a property and walk away from it and let someone else fix it up and not get punished.
February 15, 2017 at 7:59 AM
Radical rag said…
Its easier to find a new home and let your columbia property sit. Its hard to sell columbia homes!
February 15, 2017 at 8:46 AM
Anonymous said…
How can this happen ???
February 15, 2017 at 11:48 AM
Anonymous said…
What has me wondering, when I read the Sunday LNP and look at deed transactions, there are many LLP groups.and sales located on a public road. Who are all these LLP's and can the sale addresses be more specific.
February 15, 2017 at 5:26 PM
Sharon said…
Good observation. I see it all the time and really wonder what's going on here. I'm actually glad that someone else has noticed this.
February 15, 2017 at 6:27 PM
Anonymous said…
I know the Street Department is busy putting in the beauty grates around the trees currently. The Borough should at least get our bucket truck up there and pull the window and board it up. This is a safety issue for children walking around this home on a busy road.
February 15, 2017 at 7:56 PM
Anonymous said…
Its atypical when you have a municipality with high taxes & low property values. LLC's (slumlords) buy the properties, put as little as they can into maintaining the properties & collect as much rent as they can out of them.
February 16, 2017 at 8:16 AM
Joe Lintner said…
The window was secured as of yesterday.
February 16, 2017 at 10:02 AM
Anonymous said…
Thank you. Will try it. I think it is time people know where these places are and follow what is done at these properties as far as repairs. If the LLC's are slumlords, it is the they follow the codes, like the rest of us owners and taxpayers.
February 16, 2017 at 11:03 AM
Anonymous said…
People do use this sidewalk daily and in order to get around the tape, one had to go onto the 462 highway. Inconvenient, if not dangerous with a stroller.
February 16, 2017 at 6:03 PM
Anonymous said…
And Code Department continues to single out the homeowners not the Rentals!
February 16, 2017 at 10:01 PM
Anonymous said…
Do they know the true number of rentals in this town? I doubt it. I think they lost control when the leadership of past councils, planning and zoning granted approvals to chopping up large,single family homes into appartments. Granted, by making 2 off street parking spaces per apartment is a start to control new applications, the damage is done.
February 17, 2017 at 8:14 AM
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