Wood, boxes, insulation and a milk crate all sit outside of a dumpster on Peace Street. Why is that upsetting? Residents say that dumpster often overflows, and it's right outside of a vacant home on Peace Street in Buffalo's Fruitbelt neighborhood.
"They're expecting us to keep our houses in condition," said Noraida Bilbraut, referring to her home's proximity to the up and coming medical corridor. "Why don't they do something about this house?"
A 7 Eyewitness News viewer, fed up with trash blowing into her yard, sent us pictures. Reporter Rachel Elzufon went to Peach Street to talk to residents and check out the mounting garbage for herself.
Neighbors say after a month of trash building up, the dumpster was finally emptied on Tuesday morning, around the same time as a court hearing for housing violations surrounding the property. However, there is still garbage piled up behind the now empty dumpster.
"Yesterday, the garbage was overflowing, because I believe they have other houses," Bilbraut said. "They come and dump the garbage in there."
Court records show the owner of 35 Peach Street, Julian Russotto of Rochester, faces housing violation charges from the City of Buffalo with five different homes.
At 35 Peach Street, some of the 10 violations include working without a permit, causing blight to an area and excessive amounts of trash and construction. Neighbors say that work is being done on the house, but very sporadically and its rare to see workers. Those complaints stem from violations listed back in 2014.
Russotto also faces violations for an accumulation of garbage and stairway/deck/porch/balcony issues at 229 Orange Street, weeds and structural issues at 71 Orange Street, construction work without a license and permit at 93 Orange Street and storage of garbage containers at 201 Dodge.
Bilbraut says that workers at 35 Peach Street, which is across the street from her even took garbage totes from her home to use. Bilbraut also says the block has safety concerns.
"At night I see people go inside the house (with bags) and you don't know what they have. You don't know what they're bringing inside."
7 Eyewitness News did reach out to the listed number for Russotto on the phone and online. He did not reach back to us for a comment.
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