How To Report Dirty Lots on Your Block

I wish I had good news about eyesore in residence, 195 Hawthorne. The lot remains a festering pile of garbage and neglected scaffolding. I called in a sanitation violation to 311 last April, to no avail. But, hey, if at first you don't succeed.... welcome to 311 Online, where a handy web page makes it easy to send in sanitation complaints. (The form for abandoned lots is here.) Last time I complained anonymously (or at least, as anonymously as possible given that I also blogged about it). But this time left my contact info. Hopefully that will help. Also, it's worth noting that the Department is allocating log numbers for these kinds of litter requests now, allowing complainants to follow up — it wasn't doing that when I called in April. Fingers crossed!

Comments

[Seth]

You may have better luck complaining to the NYC Department of Health.

This agency is responsible for issuing citations to any property owner that leaves construction and other materials left on their property. This is considered a health hazard - it doesn't matter if it a bunch of wood or bricks or whatever.

While the pictures above appear to mostly be about garbage you might as well try to complain anyway. They will cite whatever is within their jurisdiction.

If the 311 operator wants to file the complaint as sanitation, be persistent and firm that you want to file with Department of Health.

I complained about a building that I can see out my window that was using their backyard as some kind of crazy storage land. I wouldn't really have cared except their things kept blowing onto the tracks for the subway. After I complained to the Department of Health the next week all the stuff was gone.

I recommend trying it.

[hannahrose]

Also . . . does anyone know if any of the large apartment buildings on our block recycle? On recycling day all I see are black garbage bags ready for pick up. I tried reporting 75 Hawthorne for not recycling, but have not noticed a change. It does not look like 59 Hawthorne recycles, but I am not sure.

[hannahrose]

I meant to ask if 45 Hawthorne recycles.