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Spray-Painted Staten Island House Languishes

Readers seek help for preservation emergencies / June 26, 2007

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Dear Preservation 911,

(Tottenville Historical Society)

It was two years ago that your story of the "spray painted" house was published. As you willl see from the attached, the house continues to lanquish and, in fact, recently lost a second porch column, either by the homeowner's doing or as a result of the weight of the stacked lumber on the porch deck.

The homeowner has been given permission to build behind the house, with the stipulation the house be moved to the left property line to allow ample parking for the units behind. He cannot seem to work out the details with the appropriate city agencies.

The community watches the house deteriorate daily. We keep an eye open and alert the proper authorities when the homeowner starts whacking the building, lights fires outside and inside to "burn scrap lumber," leaves doors and windows unlocked and open, and breaks windows.

Our mayor thought it was necessary to intervene in 2005, but soon after the election dropped this house, and our community, from his agenda.

Sincerely,

Linda Hauck

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Preservation 911 is a message board open to all readers. While National Trust staff will respond to the extent feasible, this will not be possible in all cases. We encourage other readers involved in state or local preservation to respond with advice or assistance. To contact either a regional office of the National Trust, a statewide or local nonprofit organization, or your state's historic preservation office, click here for a state-by-state list.

The National Trust's regional and field offices bring the programs and tools of the Trust to communities across the country. They offer technical assistance through consultations and field visits and financial help through small grants. They hold educational programs for professional preservationists and work to foster policies that help historic places. They also provide leadership on issues that concern entire regions, such as saving historic schools, fighting sprawl, and revitalizing cities.

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