Debris Removed From Hartford Lot

The pile of rubble sat on the same lot on Edgewood Street for a year.

Heavy equipment hit the ground Thursday morning on Edgewood Street in Hartford and started to remove the rubble that has been an unwanted eyesore for more than a year.

"Thanks a lot.  This is all what we want.  Clean the mess," said neighbor Jerome Charles.

Charles and his neighbor, Lawrence Williams, said they complained to the city multiple times about the debris.

"I'm elated something is finally being done," Williams said.

The debris pile was once a house.  Neighbors said a snowstorm in January 2011, caused the house's roof to cave in.  A demolition crew later tore down the structure.  But the crumbled building material remained on the lot.

The lot attracted drug dealers, animals and was an overall health hazard, according to neighbors.

The City of Hartford said the demolition crew had placed a lien on the property owner over a payment dispute.  Tax records revealed the owner is Edgewood Park Apartments on the Park, LLC. The owner could not be reached for comment.

The city has officially stepped in and is picking up the $43,750 clean-up bill.  The city may take legal action against the property owner in order to recoup the money.

"We're trying to have the owners be responsible and have them pay the bills rather than the city pay the bills continuously, because the city doesn't have an endless pot of money to pay these things," said Daniel Loos, Hartford's Director of Licensing and Inspection.

City employees said despite what neighbors say about the long wait, they have been working hard behind the scenes.  The city said its first priority was to keep the scene contained. 

"I'm sure the neighbors will be happy and we realize that it's not nice living next to a thing like this," Loos said.

It could take more than a week until the project is completed.

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