NORWICH – The tenants moved out months ago, but the garbage, rats, junk and smell remain.
City View Trailer Park on Crandall Street in the Town of Norwich has seen its share of problems over the past year, but neighbors say even with the park closed, the problems linger.
Following severe septic problems in the park over a year ago, Town Supervisor David Law evicted all tenants. A total of eight residences were given a 30-day notice, and water was shut off at the park. Following the water being shut off, the sewage runoff ceased, and at least one problem was fixed for nearby homeowners. Neighbors say just weeks after the initial move, one family came back to the park and took up residence again. Nearby neighbor Tim Howe says the family did not stay gone long and illegally tapped a nearby well after living at the trailer without water for some time.
By the end of October, Law issued another 30-day eviction notice to the family residing at the park.
Currently the park is vacant, but the junk and stench still pose health and safety risks for the neighborhood, said Howe.
Howe said when he and his family moved in next to City View in 2000, the upkeep of the park was generally good. But over the years, conditions at the park steadily worsened, he said. “When the rats are coming onto my property and into my home, it has gone too far.” Howe said over the winter, he spent over $100 on rat poison alone.
Howe bought his home next to the park as a foreclosure and has spent the past seven years remodeling to the tune of $50,000 to $65,000– which now he says has been a waste since the park next door has dropped the market price for his home dramatically.
Besides the rat infestation, the garbage in and around each of the trailers is literally unbearable. There are piles of debris sitting around the park and inside the trailers, looking as though the park was simply deserted. The smell, although subsided some with a good gust of wind, is fiercely noticeable.
At one point, Howe said he wanted to buy the park, but the deal never happened. He also said if the park goes for taxes soon, he will think about buying it so he can clean it out.
The town says its hands are tied regarding the property. “We have done everything we can do, legally,” said Law. Both Law and Howe are in agreement that the park has been “abandoned” by owners Karen and Steven Key, since no one has heard anything from them in months. Law says he has tried to contact Key to no avail. According to tax records, the Keys have not paid taxes since 2004 and currently owe $12,574.86 in back taxes.
The tax office states if no taxes are paid this year, the property will be up for auction next spring. Once the property is auctioned for taxes, the necessary proceedings may occur to let either a buyer or the town decide what to do with the park.
Law says he would like to get a hold of Key to inform him there are ways to clean out the park and dismantle the trailers that are now posing a health and safety risk.
Howe said he is worried the first trailer sitting nearest the road could buckle and anyone who happens to be driving down the road at the time could be seriously injured. The cinder blocks along one side of the structure are gone, and there are areas where the sides are starting to protrude. The back end of the trailer is one of three that legally resides on Howe’s property and he said if anyone is in his backyard at the time it buckles, it would be life- threatening. “I have small grandchildren, and if it goes they could be badly hurt or worse,” said Howe.
Without word from the property owner, Law said the town can not move forward. Once the property goes to auction, Law said the town will have to see what can be done. “If it were up to me, those trailers would be gone already,” said Law.