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Valley Stream resident urges enforcement action on long‑boarded fire‑damaged house; staff to inspect
Summary
A Valley Stream resident told the Board of Trustees that a fire‑damaged house in the Gibson section has sat boarded for about 4½ years, drawing pests and depressing property values; village staff said fines and summonses exist and agreed to follow up and inspect the site.
Kathy Hicks, a Valley Stream resident, told the Village of Valley Stream Board of Trustees during public comment that a house behind her property has remained burned, condemned and boarded for about four and a half years and is causing pests, safety concerns and declining property values.
"I have not been able to use my backyard for 4 and a half years," Hicks said. She described animals and insects living on the property, holes in the structure and falling gutters, and said the house was finally boarded up only two weeks ago. Hicks said she has told village staff repeatedly that the property is a nuisance and that neighbors understand the house was used informally as an Airbnb before the fire.
The issue drew a response from village staff. "Nick has been my — he's been my rock so far," Hicks said when referring to a village staff member. Nick Casano, a village staff member who appeared at the meeting, confirmed staff contact with the property owner and said the owner has been issued fines and appearance tickets. "They're up to about 6 summonses now," Casano said, referring to enforcement actions documented in the meeting record.
Hicks also reported an insect problem she identified as spotted lanternfly on vegetation in her yard that she said originated from the burned property. She asked the board what further steps the village could take and offered to show photos and allow village staff onto her property for inspection. Hicks provided her address as 35 Peninsula Boulevard and said the damaged house is listed in the transcript as 30 Fourth Wilson Road (other references in the record include "34 Wilson Flint").
Board members and staff said they would collect existing records, view the photos Hicks offered and inspect the site. A meeting participant who identified only as "Jay" asked staff to gather information; Casano and other staff agreed to follow up and to email the resident. Meeting remarks indicate staff will attempt to review the file and visit the site, but the board did not take a formal vote or direct a specific enforcement action during the session.
Hicks said the fire occurred on New Year's Eve about four and a half years ago and that the property owner has said she planned to pull an asbestos report and a demolition permit; Hicks said she has not seen those permits or the demolition occur. At the meeting she said the owner had repeatedly received appearance tickets but had not demolished the structure.
No formal order, permit approval, demolition or court action was recorded during the meeting. Village staff acknowledged the existing enforcement history noted by Hicks and agreed to pursue further review of the case and to contact the resident with next steps.
The public comment ended with staff promising to compile and share documentation and to inspect the site; Hicks asked anyone from the village who visits the property to knock on her door at 35 Peninsula Boulevard and she offered to show photographs documenting the condition of the burned house.
