Neighbors fed-up with rat-infested home

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Some fed-up neighbors in Buffalo say a property on their street has turned into a haven for rodents and much more. They say the city hasn't done a thing about it.

Try to walk on the sidewalk, or find the front door of this west side house.

Mary Ellis said, "This has been growing, and growing, and growing. And nobody's done anything about it."

---

Related Stories

Rats infesting a south Buffalo backyard

Rats are making a comeback in Tonawanda

How to get rid of pesky groundhogs

---

Ellis lived in the house next door for 27 years.

"You can't even walk on the sidewalk," said Ellis.

Now she's worried about her daughter who lives in the house next to this neglected property.

Ellis said, "I've had a lot of friends that I still have on this block, they've called, and they said they're getting nowhere."

Ellis contacted News 4. On the day we arrived, we met Pat Ando. Ando has lived next door for 47 years. If you think the front is overgrown, take a look at the backyard. Both women say this vacant property is a blight, and not a reflection of the neighborhood.

"We always, everybody, we always take take care of our property. This is the only eyesore," stated Ando.

City records list the property owner as Donald J. Weisansal. As many as 10 alleged code violations are pending on Congress Street, and another vacant property on Dewitt, also in Weisansal's name, has a dozen suspected code violations.

Chief Building Inspector Lou Petrucci said, "There's been a whole series of complaints. If anybody's on the property, the police can arrest them."

Petrucci says orders to vacate are in place for both properties, and that arrest warrants have been issued for the owner.

"If you don't show up for court, and you think that you're going to eventually sneak by or that we're not going to find you, we'll find you, and the sheriff's will come and knock on your door, and that's not a pleasant phone call or a pleasant wake up call to get," said Petrucci.

According to town of Cheektowaga records, Donald J. Weisansal owns this well-manicured suburban home on Manlon Terrace. A man who answered the door told us Weisansal wasn't there, but said he would give him my card. Meanwhile, the folks on Congress Street in Buffalo are breathing a little easier.

City crews cut down the overgrown bushes and it made quite a difference on the property.

An attorney for Donald Weisansal told News 4 that his client was unaware of alleged housing code violations until he was contacted by News 4. Attorney David Silverberg says he'll address the matter in City Housing Court.