News Advisory
For Release: Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Contact: Frank Baraff 914-469-3775

Orange Quality of Life Task Force Demolishes Another Dangerous House.
Demolition carried out Monday, June 1, 550 Liberty St.

On Monday. June 1st, 550 Liberty St. was demolished. Present was Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., Planning and Economic Development Director Valerie Jackson, and neighbors of the dangerous property.

550 Liberty Street was a two family house that posed a safety hazard.  The house, which dated to 1859, was dangerous and structurally unsound. It had been in disrepair for at least three years. It was owned by Aaralou Corporation, 354 Long Avenue, Hillside, NJ 07205

The City cited the property with violations multiple times for its lack of exterior maintenance, dating as far back as June of 2006. Due to property negligence, a violation was issued by the Public Officer and the property placed on the City’s “Vacant and Abandoned Property List” on July 30, 2008.

The owner was notified and given until February 09, 2009 to comply with the City’s Property Maintenance Code regarding the appearance and preservation of his property. The owner was notified on April 22, 2009 that his property has been elevated to the City’s “Demolition List” due to failure to comply with the City’s Property Maintenance Code.

Statement by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
“One of the goals of our Quality of Life Task Force is to rid the City of Orange of problem properties and to demolish unsafe structures.  This is the fifth unsafe property to be demolished under the Quality of Life Task Force. 550 Liberty St. was identified by the Task Force as dangerous and a blight on the neighborhood. We will now seek to have the property redeveloped in keeping with the scale and appearance of the neighboring area.”
Quotes from neighbors
There were a number of residents in the neighborhood who watched the demolition and expressed their relief that the house was being demolished.

Douglas McCall said "I am glad this house is coming down.  I tried to purchase it several years ago because it is next door to my home.  The owner would not sell it." McCall grew up on Liberty Street with his brother Shelton McCall, Assistant Essex County Prosecutor.  Douglas and his mother both still own and live in houses on Liberty Street.  

Mike Malbrough, a resident on Liberty Street for the past 4 years, said "this house has been an eyesore ever since I moved here.  A lot of the residents grew up on this street and are glad to see it go. I was happy when I heard it was being demolished."