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Residents want unsightly home demolished

The property at 77 Haskins St. has been unoccupied for more than 10 years and the city is owed close to $90,000 in back taxes. Neighbors say it has become a breeding ground for cats and radiates a wretched odor.
By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Residents said they have had enough of the stench, overgrown grass, filth and cat breeding taking place at 77 Haskins St. Located in the Pine Point sector of the city, the home has been unoccupied for more than 10 years and was boarded up some time around 1998. Close to $90,000 is owed to the city in back taxes.

Last week neighbors hosted two press conferences to bring attention to the property.

Rochelle Bascom, who lives two houses away from 77 Haskins, is a six-year resident of the street. She's not only worried about the property value of her home being affected, but said the property is a health hazard that affects everyone's quality of life.

"It's an eye sore. Cats are breeding in the house. It smells awful. We can't eat in our kitchen in the summer because of the smell, can't picnic in our own yard," Bascom said, adding that dead animals have been found inside of it in the past. "It's a hazard for the kids in the winter time. They can't walk [on that side of the street] because it's not shoveled. They have to walk in the street."

Dorman School is located just south of the property.

"To see this type of odor coming from the property ... There's a school right behind it," Hina Sheikh said. "Kids can't walk on the sidewalk on the street. The sidewalk is broken and overgrown in front of the property. Neighbors have been trying to mow it and shovel it when they can."

Neighbors want the home demolished. They have been working with ACORN, a community organization of low and moderate-income families that helps members take action on issues of concern, to bring the problem to light. ACORN Community Organizer Sheikh said something has to be done. She said whenever she spoke to anyone within the neighborhood the house was a primary complaint.

"I was doing my regular rounds and every household had a complaint against that property," Sheikh. "I know that people in the community made a lot of phone complaints and [sent] letters to the office of the mayor. I have received a response from the mayor's office but not from the Housing Department."

Carl Dietz, acting director of Housing Department, said the department's "in the tax title process but I don't anticipate final judgement for another four to five months." He, however, would prefer to see the house saved rather than demolished.

"Clearly it's not in terrific shape. As we look at what the resources are, that's clearly one that could be saved and we would move quickly to auction it off and try to rehab it," Dietz said. "It's probably not that difficult of a project to rehab. It's unfortunate that the property's vacant. Until we get site control we're pretty limited to what we can do."

Dietz said if the structure of the home was really unstable and/or ready to fall, then demolishing it would be the preferable option. He believes that it would best be served as a future home for someone after it has been restored. In the meantime, the city does have an order for the property to be mowed periodically and he will look into getting that done.

According to information found on the Housing Department's Web site, the last listed owner of the home is Cynthia Wallace and property taxes have gone unpaid for 17 years.

If the property is successfully rehabbed, Deitz said the tax title custodian would try to sell the property to recoup it toward the taxes.

At press time, Sheikh said if she hadn't heard from the city exactly what they planned to do, "members will take further action."

"Our next step is down to City Hall to the mayor's office," Bascom said.

"I think it's great that the residents bring to our attention these issues and I think it's important that they identify it for us so we can better address their concerns," Deitz said.