Frustrated residents lock the gates to vacant property
A group of residents say they're frustrated over a lack of action at a vacant property on Buffalo's west side. The Episcopal Church Home is being vandalized. YNN's Ryan Whalen reports on how residents are taking matters into their own hands.
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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Members of the Columbus Park Association closed and locked the two main gates to the Episcopal Church Home Tuesday afternoon.
Neighbors say they noticed the gates were not secured about five days ago. They say they reached out to the owner of the property, Episcopal Community Housing Incorporated, and city officials about it, but nothing was done.
The owners haven't returned calls from YNN yet but neighbors say the group called it a high priority in a press release. But the neighborhood group says it was too much of a safety concern to wait.
"Vandals and fire, just one street over and the other street over we've had four arsons in the past three years and the houses burned down to the ground," said Kathy Mecca, Columbus Park Association President.
This property is part of the plans for an expanded Peace Bridge Plaza, but the state hasn't finalized any purchase of it yet.