Spray-Painted Staten Island House Languishes

By Linda Hauck | Online Only | July 26, 2007

"Spray-Painted" house in Staten Island, NY

Credit: Tottenville Historical Society

Dear Preservation 911,

It was two years ago that your story of the "spray-painted house" was published. As you willl see from the attached, the house continues to lanquish and, in fact, recently lost a second porch column, either by the homeowner's doing or as a result of the weight of the stacked lumber on the porch deck.

The homeowner has been given permission to build behind the house, with the stipulation the house be moved to the left property line to allow ample parking for the units behind. He cannot seem to work out the details with the appropriate city agencies.

The community watches the house deteriorate daily. We keep an eye open and alert the proper authorities when the homeowner starts whacking the building, lights fires outside and inside to "burn scrap lumber," leaves doors and windows unlocked and open, and breaks windows.

Our mayor thought it was necessary to intervene in 2005, but soon after the election dropped this house, and our community, from his agenda.

Sincerely,

Linda Hauck

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