Description
The Greek Orthodox Church off of Greenkill Ave. installed a parking lot that slopes approx 3 feet down a hill entering residences of Marius St. flooding and significant erosion of said properties continues despite attempts to resolve issue. The drainage problem also affects Greenkill ave. as the water pours down that driveway and pools at the end causing dangerous conditions. Attempts to resolve this situation include meeting with church officials, Alderman notification, building inspector and engineer correspondence finally Mayor Sottile has been notified multiple times and has ended in surprise "NOTHING" . Please note there is video documentation of said problem.
13 Comments
Gerald Berke
If you have alerted the city in writing, then the city has been notified as is liable for accidents which may occur. You don't say, but I assume you have contacted the church to remedy the problem: they have recourse to the installer of the parking lot.
If you haven't notified them, that would surely be an important step in getting it fixed.
Building code states a person is responsible for runoff from their property whenever the land is altered such that drainage is affected.
A good place to bring this up is also at the common council.
Again, written notification is required. Writing here is very helpful to communicated the problem to neighbors and citizens. It does not constitute official notice. Nothing short of hard copy does that.
Bon Cur (Guest)
County Health Department, and the State Health Department should be notified both about this public health and safety nuisance. It is a cesspool that breeds pestilence and disease. Get out your video camera and make a show of it for public access television stations in the county, You Tube and local religious organizations.
Kim (Guest)
Yes you are correct the church was also notified and meeting ensued with 2 alderman present during . Two engineers have been here to review situation, the building inspector has issued several correspondence with the church. Still no resolution. The church has been aware of this issue for years and continues to attempt to ignore situation.
Kim (Guest)
Great idea already have pictures and video. All correspondence. Thank you will do.
Gerald Berke
It would be helpful to know what the "church" thinks now. Talk to the person in the church who is responsible, and see if something cannot be worked out. Note the name, the date, the mutual understanding or not, whether the problem is officially accepted as a problem.
It seems the matter may have been brought up several years ago and not resolved and it is being brought up again but only here.
Unless there has been a continuous discussion for these years, a fresh start is needed.
Gerald Berke
The area in question is quite impressive: it is an area approx 130 yards long and 20 yards wide, not counting another asphalt pad approx 40 yds square at the top.
It looks horrendous, and I haven't clue what it looks like when there is a "normal" rain or in a heavy downpour...
If there is video documentation, locate it.
It looks like the house right across the street would be a swimming pool, but I see no signs of water damage, so again, I don't know what the real problem looks like and if it is dangerous, how dangerous and when.
Looks like there is a lot or room for subjectivity by a whole lot of interests on a very very old issue that came up because we got a heavy heavy rain.
Good luck. I'm outta here :-)
Gerald Berke (Guest)
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Bon Cur (Guest)
The Laws of Moses state "Thou shalt have a place also without the camp whither thou shalt go forth abroad. And thou shalt have a paddle among they weapons; and it shall be, when thou sittest down abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy; that He see no unseemly thing in thee, and turn away from thee."
If the Ulster County Health Department can't enforce the laws of man, and the "laws of God" are selective, then sue.
kim (Guest)
continuous communication through lawyer and building inspector. This problem was noted prior to the current occupants and he also attempted resolution of this issue. Current occupants have been continuously attempting to resolve issue. The current occupants of properties have had to put in drainage systems on there properties in order to deter further erosion and damage.
Marsha Brook (Guest)
I believe the church may have violated state/federal environmental law regarding runoff.
kim (Guest)
If you are in the parking lot of the Greek orthodox church look down hill. There is an approx. 3 ft slope of the parking lot that drains into the properties below. Flooded basements due to pooling of water in heavy down pours. Snow plowing done in winter parking lot cleared piled to edge of parking lot melts and drains into yards. Of yards, trees being uprooted.
Bon Cur (Guest)
Dear Kim Quick,
Apparently, you are being taken to the cleaners by your lawyer. You must enjoy paying good money after bad. What is it about the word "sue" you do not understand? As Mr. Berke said, "I am out of here. Good luck."
Anonymous
Work has begun to correct this problem. Thanks to everyone involved. Hopefully this will resolve situation.