Thanks, Michael. Coincidentally, minutes late I received a rather overdue e-mail reply from DOT to my December 19, 2012 letter. The reply is disappointingly noncommittal and unhelpful:

March 15, 2013

Dear Mr. Glassman:

I am responding to your letter regarding curb conditions in front of 201 Cabrini Boulevard. I apologize for the delayed response.

Our Sidewalk Management Unit inspected the above location. The property owner has been notified of the sidewalk conditions that exist on their property.

Under Section 19-152 of the New York City Administrative Code, property owners are responsible for maintaining, repairing and installing sidewalks adjoining their properties.

The Department of Transportation allocates $20 million annually to make repairs to sidewalks and curbs. While requests to address curb conditions exceed available resources, our contractor works to make curb repairs as efficiently as it can by rotating through community boards citywide.

We will add this property to our curb database. At the time, we are currently focusing on repairing curbs at 1-3 family properties.

I hope that this information is helpful to you. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Sincerely,

Margaret Forgione

Borough Commissioner
MF:wt
CCU-13-706
Man Log # 16052
c: A/C Howard, File

Any delay in repairing the sidewalk is a hazard to the public safety. There are many elderly residents and young children who could be injured as a result of this condition. This is a liability to the city and dangerous to the residents. In addition to the fact that the fence is blocking public property.

There has been no progress. I'm going to bring the issue to the board of directors of Castle Village Owners Corporation. Since the poor condition of the site affects property values, in addition to presenting a hazard to residents who cross the street at that very point from Village Lane, over which CVOC has eminent domain.

There must be some way to reach the Department of Transportation so that the citations will be effective.

I'm thinking that perhaps collecting signatures from the neighborhood residents and presenting that to the mayors office might get some action. Is anyone in agreement and willing to help to collect?

I think that's a good suggestion but am wondering whether there's an easier way. Here are my thoughts: 1. Report it to NY1. 2. Ask for a meeting with Councilmember's office. 3. Ask for a meeting with Community Board. 4. Collect signatures--but how? Who are the interested citizens? I guess those in 200 Cabrini Boulevard, and I could work on that. But whom would the signatures go to? 5. I'm told by the co-op to keep reporting it to 311, but I can't do any more of that since it's been totally unproductive. 6. Ask for a meeting with DOT; that approach worked a long time ago with Sanitation. 7. The matter was dismissed by the Castle Village board.

No progress. Co-op board is passive & unresponsive. Can we find a sympathetic elected official who can help us penetrate the Department of Transportation bureaucracy?

I'm hoping the new council member can help. But the rumor is that the city took possession if the site for unpaid property taxes. Is that true?

No action by Department of Sanitation. Joshua Orzeck of that agency suggests frequent reports to 311 as well as contacting the owners directly.

How do we organize so that the owners respond? The city is unhelpful. The sidewalk, especially with un-shoveled snow, is un-passable. Ideally, someone would find a developer.

A neighbor savvier than I posted the names and phone numbers of the owners. Please contact them: Blue Chip Ventures/Nest Seekers, Melvin Caro & Matthew Mazzella 917.825.8285 or 212.252. 8772 x4790. Funding: Brick Realty Capital, Anthony Lekanides, 646.794.1487. Eric Roth, Joel Niblock, Phil Rangone, 212.645.2432. Thanks for any help or advice!

Any suggestions for motivating Department of Transportation to enforce its rules would be appreciated.

Any suggestions for motivating Department of Transportation to enforce its rules about sidewalk condition and passage would be appreciated.

Still no progress. I've given up on Department of Transportation, even though they pursue every minor crack in every sidewalk but this one, which is truly treacherous.

This is one of several abandoned construction sites in the neighborhood. All we ask is that the treacherous condition of the sidewalks be repaired, that the construction fences be removed, and that the full width of the public right of way on the sidewalk be restored and shoveled in the winter.

This site, along with the abandoned construction site at Overlook Terrace and 184th Street, are not only examples of overly liberal issuance of building permits, but also of hazardous sidewalk conditions. Why is the Department of Transportation so lax and ineffectual.

It's astonishing that there's an entire city agency (Department of Transportation) dedicated to safety on streets and sidewalks--and that this treacherous condition remains.

Lots (there are 4 adjacent parcels) recently sold through bankruptcy court. Castle Village Owners Corporation holds deed restrictions. Lot is very dirty and needs to be cleaned. There need to be few restrictions so as to incentivize development.

Evidently the former owners filed for bankruptcy, and the parcel has been sold with a deed restriction from Castle Village Owners Corporation. I doubt the fees for violations were paid in light of the bankruptcy. The new owners should remove the chain link fence blocking passage along the sidewalk, restore the concrete walkway and the curb, and clean the lot. How can that be required?

How can we find out who the new owners are?

After 13 years, the property was sold by its bankrupt owners. The new owners quickly corrected the problem. Department of Transportation was regrettably useless, but I'm very happy it's fixed.