SCHUMER ANNOUNCES: VERIZON WILL LEVEL ABANDONED BUILDING & CLEAN UP PROPERTY IN VILLAGE OF CAMILLUS THAT WAS LEFT IGNORED FOR TWO DECADES; WILL PAVE WAY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND

Schumer Visited Village of Camillus Last Week & Urged Verizon To Clean Up Abandoned Building That Was Allowed to Deteriorate For Years 

Schumer Commends Verizon For Listening To Local Concerns & Agreeing To Demolish Building & Clean Up Property

Schumer: Verizon Heard Our Call, Loud & Clear

 

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that Verizon will, in response to local concerns regarding a long-abandoned building in the Village of Camillus, level and clean up the property that has become a community eye-sore for the last 20 years. Last week, Schumer visited the Village and urged Verizon to be a good neighbor and clean up this site so it is no longer an eye sore or can one day be used for other purposes.

“The news that Verizon will be leveling this long-abandoned building and cleaning up the site, paving the way for possible future use, is an indication that Camillus residents have finally had their voices heard,” said Schumer. “Local residents work hard to maintain their properties. So it is welcome news that Verizon is doing the right thing by cleaning up the poor condition of this property. I will continue to work with both Verizon and local officials as this project moves forward.”

During his visit, Schumer said residents have had enough of the current deteriorating state of the property, and are frustrated with the lack of upkeep and crumbling state of the building. Schumer said locals should not be burdened by this property any longer, and commended Verizon for taking locals’ concerns seriously and working clean up the property. Schumer also vowed to continue watching this project to ensure that it is done in a timely manner.

Residents of Green Street and the adjacent Leroy Street have been frustrated with the state of the abandoned, unkempt property for years and, in an effort to have their voices heard, began writing letters and attempting to call Verizon to fix the situation. On many occasions, the Village of Camillus itself attempted to contact Verizon to no avail. During each attempt to contact the company, the Village never received adequate responses or attention. The village has the option to bring Verizon to court over the numerous code violations, but has not yet decided to do so.

When residents’ attempts failed to garner any attention to the issue from Verizon, they contacted Schumer’s office. With more than 12 notices and follow-ups of violations citing the poor condition and maintenance of the property, Schumer said the time is now for Verizon to step in and be a good neighbor. Schumer said Verizon should first do this by hearing residents’ concerns and, second, by working with local officials to clean up the property. Verizon has been cited for failing to mow the grass at the property, not attending to the wood trim that is rotting or the door paint that is peeling and overall poor condition and maintenance. Some fed-up locals have even taken matters in their own hands by mowing the tall grass. That is why Schumer urged Verizon to hear the pleas of local residents and show complete attention to this matter.

A copy of Schumer’s initial letter to Verizon CEO Mr. Lowell McAdam appears below:

Dear Mr. Lowell McAdam,

I write to express concerns about Verizon’s vacant building in the Village of Camillus, New York at 1 Green Street. Both village residents and officials have reached out to my office regarding the deteriorating nature of the property.

The building, which has been unoccupied and unattended for years, is an eye-sore for local residents and threatens the character of this residential neighborhood.  The building’s rotting façade and unkempt land do not meet the village’s minimum requirements for property. In fact, residents of Green Street and the adjacent Leroy Street believe the existence of the building is actively lowering their property values.

The Village of Camillus has on numerous occasions attempted to contact Verizon about the poor condition of the building, and they have provided my office with documentation of their efforts. When their attempts failed, residents decided to take matters into their own hands and mow the grass themselves. Yet, they still await appropriate communication from Verizon, as well as a permanent plan for better maintaining the site.

For the past several years, residents in the community have sacrificed their own time and energy to take care of your abandoned property, as well as their own. It is imperative that Verizon hear the pleas of local residents and show complete attention to this matter.

I trust that Verizon will soon establish a better line of communication with neighbors and with village officials, and that an appropriate and effective plan for cleaning up this eye sore and maintaining it going forward can be forged with all due speed. I look forward to hearing from you on this matter, and with working with Verizon and the Village of Camillus to implement positive changes.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

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