Neighbors Fret Over Vacant Building, Eyesore on Gates and Washington

By Caitlin Nolan 

Washington Avenue between Gates and Greene avenues is arguably one of the most scenic blocks in Clinton Hill. Large brownstones, plush trees, a community garden, a public school and a playground can be found on the block. But another facet of the street has neighbors worried: 476 Washington Ave.

"On our block is a house that is abandoned, derelict and decrepit," said Suzanne DeBrango, president of the Wa Greene Block Association. "The back is falling apart and we are concerned for safety if it falls. This house is on the same side of the street as P.S. 11; children walk in front of it every day to go to school."

The property's executive offering memorandum with Terracrg Commercial Realty Group, which is selling the home, notes the home is in need of serious work, and mentions a two-story extension that once stood on the land has collapsed.

"The property currently has an approximately 1,725 [square-foot] three-story vacant building in need of total gut renovation or tear‐down," the memorandum reads. 

Melissa DiBella, vice president of sales and marketing with Terracrg Commercial Realty Group acknowledged the situation is complicated. "It's partially collapsed. It's landmarked," she said. "If landmarks approves it, it could be a very beautiful townhouse but I don't know what the time line would look like."

The home, the price of which is not listed on Terracrg's website but DiBella said is currently $1.4 million, is part of the Clinton Hill Historic District and therefore any changes to the exterior are subject to review by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. 

"We do approve new buildings quite routinely in historic districts, but they have to harmonize with other buildings on the block and in the district," a spokeswoman for the Landmarks Preservation Commission told Patch. 

If the building were to fall down, however, developers wouldn't be tied to the previous building's blueprints. "It would have to have a design that relates to the other buildings in the historic district," she said. "But whoever bought the property wouldn't have to recreate what was there or replicate the floor plan."

This is a nonissue, according to the owner of 476 Washington Ave., Daniel Melamed, who said the home is secure. "The structure is perfectly sound for now," he told Patch. "The building is safe right now, unless some hurricane comes and pushes it down. We had engineers looking at it, and for now it's ok."

But the stability of the property is only part of the problem, the Block Association said. 

"It is open, exposed to the elements and a haven for squatters," DeBrango said. "All manner of criminals can hide in there, how safe is that for our children and anyone walking by?"

A community affairs officer with the 88th Precinct, which covers Clinton Hill, told Fort Greene Patch that two arrests were made at the home in February; one person was charged with trespassing and the other with criminal mischief. 

And though Melahamed has owned the home for a little more than a year, complaints filed with the New York City Department of Buildings of people staying in the building, which was thought to be vacant, can be traced back to 2007. Since 2004, a total of 23 complaints, including claims of flying debris and reports of the building shaking and vibrating, have been filed. 

DiBella acknowledged the issues surrounding people entering the home without permission. "It's definitely in his best interest to keep people out of the building," she said. "As the broker, every time someone got in the building the police would contact us. He would put plywood over the doors and windows, and that was his way of keeping it closed. But because the back of the property was open, it was difficult."

Melamed said he has done as much as he can to secure the property. "As far as securing it, the only thing I can do is block the door and windows," he said. "But if anyone is eager enough to get in..."  

He also said he was aware of some complaints filed against the home, but said he has not received anything from DOB. Melamed also acknowledged the catch-22 that is trying to enter a home to investigate complaints when no one is there to allow you in. "They have no access; they can't do anything," he said. "They only follow-up with complaints but can't do anything. You can't go by what they're saying."
 
But soon all of these points will be moot, and the resolution will come by way of development, according to Melamed. Though DiBella said Melamed was still entertaining offers and weighing his options, the homeowner told Patch he had plans to "go ahead with this property." 

"For now, I haven't got anything— I haven't got any offers that I'm willing to take," he said. 

Instead, he intends on converting the home into a six-unit rental. "The neighborhood needs rentals, from what I see," he said. "I'm going full force ahead with plans. Once we get DOB approval and then landmark approval, then we could file for [building] permits. For now we have to go for all the approvals. I really wanted to start developing it this summer, but we can't. Maybe sometime in the fall we'll start developing.

Until that time comes, 476 Washington Ave. will serve as a point of contention for the block. 

"This is unacceptable," said Evelyn Whitaker, a member of the Block Association, of the home. "It's an accident waiting to happen, but it's also an eyesore."