REMOVAL UNDERWAY An excavator loads a dump truck with debris left after a fire destroyed a vacant building on Pearl Street in February. The site has since been cleared. Dan Havlik photo
After many months, Pearl St. eyesore undergoes clean-up
By Zoey McGee | Manor Ink
Livingston Manor, NY – Those who have driven down Pearl Street have most likely noticed the very obvious, unattractive remains of a vacant rooming house that burnt down in February. Dan Havlik, who lives across the street from the wreckage, spoke to Manor Ink about his observations of the building.
Before the fire, the house was for sale for about a year. The building, however, was not of interest to buyers, presumably because it needed so much work.
UNSIGHTLY Until recently, the lot on Pearl Street was covered with debris from the burned building. Duncan Hutchison photo
At the time of the interview, Havlik said that nothing much had been done with the property since the fire. “It’s pretty much the same as it was, which is just the charred remains of the house,” he said. Some police tape was placed around the debris shortly after the fire, and it remains. “But there hasn’t been much work done on it.”
When asked how the property affected him, Havlik responded, “Basically, it’s just a real eyesore. It looks terrible. It’s kind of a blight on the neighborhood.”
He went on to explain the impression that the house makes being at the southeastern entrance of town. “The first thing people see coming up Old Rte. 17 is a burnt-down house. So doesn’t that probably make visitors think the town has serious problems? That is not the message we want to send.
“That’s another thing about it,” added Havlik. “Not just that we have to look at it every day, but the hundreds of cars that are going by on the weekend.”
Another concern Havlik brought up are the hazards. “If some people enter the property, it would be dangerous because there is all this old wood that’s burnt down and nails sticking out,” he explained. “So I was wondering, what is happening?”
His question is the same as those of many others who have seen the property. About a month ago, Havlik spotted a couple walking around the property and looking at it. Then, on Oct. 21, a dump truck arrived and a crew began removing debris. Since that time, the pile has been cleaned up and only the foundation remains.
Manor Ink attempted to contact town officials regarding the status of the Pearl Street site, but had received no response prior to going to print.