— It has been a hot mess, both metaphorically and literally, for condominium residents living next to a scrapyard on the city’s Hudson River waterfront.
Him and dozens of others are now channeling their inner Twisted Sister by saying “we’re not gonna take it anymore” by filing a class action lawsuit against the Linden Avenue East scrapyard, Sims Metal, for causing disturbances. It just so happens the two attorneys working on their case can also see the scrapyard from their Port Liberté condominiums.
Matsikoudis’ balcony, outside his home office, features a view of the scrapyard in the distance, with workers operating mechanical diggers armed with claws and magnets picking up scrap and dropping it onto piles, barges and trucks. The noise can be compared to a airplane constantly flying overheard. The lawsuit says Sims is “operating facility in a way that is dramatically impacting the quality of life for the hundreds of citizens who reside nearby, diminishing their rights to the quiet, peaceful enjoyment of their properties and endangering their health.”
For Medina, moving from the Riverdale neighborhood in the Bronx to Port Liberté “checked all the boxes” for him and his wife, but the disturbances from the scrapyard were notable on the first day he moved in; as someone with asthma, he’s also noticed small breathing problems and watery eyes since moving in.
The lawsuit is seeking monetary relief and damages, as well as a court order “enjoining from engaging in the wrongful and/or unlawful conduct complained of herein.”