It's been nearly two months since nine small businesses and a church were destroyed out by a three-alarm fire in Newburgh's Sharon Place shopping center. Now, some people are starting to raise concerns about the mess left behind.
Neighbors say they still sympathize for those affected by the fire -- but would like to see the property cleaned up. Residents who live near the shopping center call the rubble-filled lot "unsightly" and say it creates a foul smell when it rains.
"It's an eyesore," says Jim Miller, whose picture window faces the debris. "I think it's an eyesore for the city of Newburgh and it's definitely an eyesore for us or anybody around." Miller says he doesn't have a problem with the property owner rebuilding, but he wants to see the torched rubble cleared from the property.
Miller is not alone. Several of his neighbors, like Katie Cecil, have similar concerns. "It's kinda annoying actually," says Cecil. "I mean, it's been a while and nothing has been touched since the fire. I mean, they put the fence up to keep people out -- but that's about it."
Town officials say the property's clean-up is on hold while multiple insurance company's settle claims from several policy holders. The property owner still has plans to rebuild, but the town is uncertain when that will happen.
Neighbors say they still sympathize for those affected by the fire -- but would like to see the property cleaned up. Residents who live near the shopping center call the rubble-filled lot "unsightly" and say it creates a foul smell when it rains.
"It's an eyesore," says Jim Miller, whose picture window faces the debris. "I think it's an eyesore for the city of Newburgh and it's definitely an eyesore for us or anybody around." Miller says he doesn't have a problem with the property owner rebuilding, but he wants to see the torched rubble cleared from the property.
Miller is not alone. Several of his neighbors, like Katie Cecil, have similar concerns. "It's kinda annoying actually," says Cecil. "I mean, it's been a while and nothing has been touched since the fire. I mean, they put the fence up to keep people out -- but that's about it."
Town officials say the property's clean-up is on hold while multiple insurance company's settle claims from several policy holders. The property owner still has plans to rebuild, but the town is uncertain when that will happen.
