As reported by intern Melissa Doherty
On
Sunday, June 9th, the New York Daily News released an article about 118 West 76th
street, a historic brownstone that has been vacant and neglected for years by
its owner, Board of Elections official Diane Haslett-Rudiano. LANDMARK WEST!
alerted the Daily News, whose article exposed the appalling truth about
the landmark, although many neighbors and other citizens had already taken
notice.
The
structure was built in 1890, in the Renaissance Revival style, by the firm Thom
and Wilson, and was designated as a NYC landmark in 1990. The property was
acquired by Diane Haslett-Rudiano’s late husband, Jean, in 1976 for $5,000. In
the article, Haslett-Rudiano stated, “A lot of my husband’s dreams are wrapped
up in that building ... but you have to be realistic, and the thing to do is to
let someone else enjoy it.” Although it is a tragedy whenever a landmark is neglected or forsaken, it is shocking that such a derelict
landowner is in a political position of power.
In
January, it was listed as one of the West Side Spirit’s Ugliest Buildings of the Upper West Side, described as an “eyesore from hell.” Despite being
officially declared unsafe by the NYC Department of Buildings, the 20 buildings
department violations and the $12,000 in back taxes, Haslett-Rudiano has taken
no action and has been unresponsive to these viable concerns.
It
is such a shame that this building, which possesses 123 years of history and so
much potential, has been unappreciated because the owner fails to take
responsibility. If the owner has such strong emotional ties to the property,
why would she let it deteriorate and descend into disrepair, as it has?
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