LYONS, N.Y. (WROC) — Help could soon be on the way for residents of the Canalside Mobile Home Park in Lyons.
Other problems have included exposed wires and old equipment.
Monday evening, New York State Sen. Pam Helming (R-54) met with residents and representatives of Providence Housing — a non profit affordable housing agency.
In a tweet she said they’re working on a long term solution for the park’s future.
Timeline of events for Canalside
July 12 — Power cut off to Lyons Canalside Mobile Home Park
During one of the hottest weather stretches of our summer, tenants at the mobile home park were given two hours notice, via text message, that their power would be shut off, while their homes were stifling.
“The home is close to 95 I believe,” said resident Melissa Lehr. “And it’s been off for not even an hour. My concerns are for all the older people in the park and the kids that have health issues.
And a fix for power was out of residents’ hands, as the solution relied solely in the hands of the owner, Phil Provenzano.
“It’s up to Phillip Provenazno to fix it, and obviously he’s not doing anything to fix it,” said resident Shane McCafferty.
July 14 — Generator installed, but no timeline on when service will return
As temperatures climbed back into the 90s, residents were unable to run air conditioners or fans. Lehr’s trailer got so hot that her and her three children had to go live with a relative for the week.
“If they have relatives, they’re going to stay with them,” Lehr said. “Some people called the Red Cross and got told they couldn’t be helped. Other people are trying to borrow a generator. It’s definitely turned out world upside down in that crazy little trailer park.”
Power was shut of by New York State Gas and Electric after the Town of Lyons cited safety concerns and code enforcement violations. Exposed wiring and frayed lines were seen surrounded 25 to 30 of the park’s trailers.
Owner Provenzano vowed he would take action then. In a text message to News 8 reporter Christian Garzone he said:
“I am diligently working on this every second … each tenant has been offered to stay in a hotel and or stay at one of my other properties. Everybody has declined.”
Lehr, however, said she never received that offer.
“I kinda wanna cry at some point, I wanna yell at somebody. I want the person to take action and be responsible for what they’re supposed to,” said Lehr.
July 18 — Lyons mobile home park remains without power during heat, humidity
Many of those who reside at the park left their homes to got to hotels, but because of the expenses, some had no choice but to go home — back to their homes with no power.
Residents said the only progress made was when work started days prior, but then stopped.
“They really ain’t doing nothing other than digging holes and making it look like they’re doing something,” said resident Tiffany Tuner.
“They worked about an hour, took off and haven’t seen them since,” McCafferty said. “I’m about $1,000 in the hole with hotel rooms, I bought a $300 generator, and probably $300 in gas so far,” said McCafferty.
These mobile homes are all too old to move off the lot.
At least one person has decided to stop paying rent and file a lawsuit against park owner Phil Provenzano.
Provenzano told News 8 not to call him again for comment.
July 22 — 11 days of no power for Lyons mobile home park
After 11 days of no power, residents were still searching for answers.
Officials say New York State Electric and Gas did install a new utility pole and wires, but the media representative for NYSEG says repairs to the infrastructure within the park need to be made by the park’s owner.
The owner, Provenzano, again asked not to be reached for comment.
July 23 — It’s still lights out at Canalside in Lyons, sewage issues surfacing
Although visible work was seen taking place to make repairs to get the power back on, other issues began surfacing — sewage issues.
A resident who spoke to News 8 says they had their own waste get discharged under their home for two months every time the toilet was flushed. The problem was never fixed, even after making management aware multiple times. The raw sewage, coupled with not having power in the high heat, drove the resident to become temporarily homeless. They are considering filing a lawsuit.
In a statement, the State Health Department says they are “aware of the complaint relating to sewage at the park, and (we are) working with the operator to resolve the issue in a timely fashion.”
Richard Bogan, the Lyons Code Enforcer, also confirmed the existence of the exposed sewage. He said the owner of the park has made a “commitment to get the power on in the park by July 30th.” Additionally, there can be no community generator installed because it would need to connect to the current power source, which is unsafe.
Provenzano, again asked not to be reached for comment.
July 29 — Nearly three weeks later, still no power at Lyons mobile home park
Nearly three weeks later and there’s still no power at a Wayne County mobile home park, and with temperatures reaching back into the 90s, it made life difficult for residents.
Lyons Town Supervisor Jake Emmel says there’s been years of electrical problems that have plagued the Canal Side Mobile Home Park on Old Lyons Road, namely naked power lines, old equipment, and power surges. It was not an easy decision to cut the power.
“It was a safety situation, if a fire broke out, somebody could’ve gotten killed. Then somebody’s in real big trouble,” says Emmel.
Emmel says it’s up to the owner, Phil Provenzano, to make repairs within park. In the meantime, the town and school are helping residents with humanitarian support until power is back.
“I don’t know how fast they’re working. We’ll still take the water out, the school will still take the snacks out, and we’ll get them some gas for their generators. I think we will continue doing what we’re doing and helping when we can. You know it’s just the right thing to do. You have to help,” Emmel says.
July 31 — NY Senate, Assembly make plea for Lyons mobile home park residents
Two state lawmakers reached out to new York Attorney General Leticia James and asked her to look into the dire situation at the Canalside Mobile Home park in Lyons.
Tenants were being told via texts they are still expected to pay rent for the month — or face eviction.
Senator of the 54th district, Pamela A. Helming and assemblyman of the 130th district, Brian Manktelow, requested immediate attention to the situation, noting that the tenants deserve answers.
August 3 — Assemblyman Manktelow reacts to Canal Side in Lyons after visiting park
Provenzano’s July 30 deadline of power restoration came and went and yet residents were still left in the dark.
“It’s one of the most severe cases I’ve heard of in many, many years,” said Manktelow
Provenzano supplied paperwork showing the park has had problems going back to 1979. The Lyons Code Enforcer says either way, Provenzano is the owner and needs to make repairs.
“He (Provenzano) really needs to make things happen quickly. He has a responsibility to those tenants. They pay their rent, trusting that he’s going to provide the services that he’s supposed to. And these individuals are having a tough time out there,” says Manktelow.
Manktelow says he had the chance to speak to Attorney General Letitia James in person about the Canalside Park.
“Between the Senator, myself and the [Attorney General’s] office, we’re here to help those individuals, and I know she [James] is here to help also,” Manktelow said. “If we move forward with this, anything that they need, she’ll help them with, and I do know that. And I’ll be in contact with her staff continually to make sure that happens.”
Manktleow said based off the residents he’s spoken with, they should not be evicted. He says these services are required by law from the owner and are not being provided.
August 30 — Power finally restored to Lyons mobile home park after 50 days
The lights are back on at the Canalside Mobile Home Park in Lyons more than a month after the power was turned off.
People living in the park couldn’t be happier. It’s been a long time coming for them. They say their neighbors really came together during this struggle. One family tells News 8 there was no sense in being negative because it was happening regardless. They say they tried to keep a positive attitude and help each other out as much as they could.
There are 11 units with people living in them and the Lyons code enforcer says all of them have had power restored. Town officials say they did inspections before deciding to shut off the power on July 11. At that time, there were bare power lines dangling around the park, old equipment and frequent power surges.
The owner of the property, Phil Provenzano says he doesn’t think that inspection ever happened. He’s gotten a lot of criticism for the issues at the park but he says he does care about the residents and has tried to accommodate their needs. Provenzano says it’s a shared responsibility.
October 15 — Water could get cut from Lyons mobile home park that lost power over summer
After going more than 50 days without power this summer, the Canalside Mobile Home Park in Lyons is now facing a new problem — water.
An official from the Wayne County Water Authority said the mobile home park’s water is due to be shut off on October 29, unless the owner of the park, Phil Provenzano, pays the water bill.
Marty Aman from the WCWA says this is not the first time they have dealt with the park owner being late on bill payments.
“It is the mobile home park owner that is responsible for paying the water bills,” Aman said. “This is a standard policy for all of the mobile home parks that we serve as we bill based upon a master metered connection, or connections, to each park.”
This is another blow to Canalside residents, who already had to endure the hottest time of year without access to air conditioners or fans.
