HUD May Take Abandoned Glendale Site
Long considered to be a gathering place for squatters, an abandoned and incomplete building in Glendale originally slated to be a shelter for developmentally disabled adults may soon fall into foreclosure, members of Community Board 5 learned at their meeting last Wednesday night, Oct. 10, at Christ the King Regional High School.
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is about to launch foreclosure proceedings against PSCH, which owns the cinder block structure at 80-97 Cypress Ave., according to Board 5 Chairperson Vincent Arcuri.
District Manager Gary Giordano elaborated further on the situation, noting that the board was apprised of the impending legal action by Alan Weinstock, PSCH’s chief executive officer. He reportedly told Giordano that HUD had made indications that they “intend to foreclose” on the Cypress Avenue location, but nothing has yet been filed with a court.
How the site managed to fall into default was not exactly known, the district manager noted. Several years ago, PSCH began constructing a facility at the location which was slated to house 19 developmentally disabled adults. Ultimately, the construction came to a halt, and the incomplete structure was left abandoned.
In recent months, Board 5 was apprised by neighbors that a number of young squatters were seen inhabiting the incomplete structure. The board was also informed of suspected drug use on the site. Those squatters have since been removed from the location and arrested, Giordano added.
With foreclosure proceedings seemingly imminent, Giordano stated that questions about the Cypress Avenue location’s future are now up in the air. Should they take possession of the property, HUD may opt to auction it off to the highest bidder, which could be anyone, the district manager added.
The site is currently zoned for R4- 1 residential use.
While HUD may instead keep the location and develop housing there, Arcuri said, “if they go the other way” and sell the site, “it could be a problem” for the community depending on the buyer and the stated intentions.
The Times Newsweekly reached out to representatives of HUD and PSCH for comment. As of press time Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 17, our calls were not returned.
