Woonsocket property ruled a salvage yard
By Matt Blanchette
@mattblanchette
Lorraine LeClerc’s family has owned this home on Broadway in Woonsocket for four generations, and for the past thirty years, they’ve been forced to look at cars, and lots of them, in various states of disrepair.
“There still sitting there. The sheriff car, the fire department car. Plus he’s added more,” she says.
Since 2001 LecClerc has continuously asked the city to do something, but nothing has happened.
“They’ve known this for three administrations and nothing gets done. It gets worse and worse and worse. We have the rodents, the propane tanks, that catches on fire there goes my house,” LeClerc said.
Albert Gaffney owns the house and said he’s simply a classic car collector and has every intention of cleaning it up.
And now he has to. The RI State Department of Business regulation issued a cease and desist order, calling the property and unlicensed salvage yard.
Other neighbors are concerned about their safety.
“You are also afraid. What is a car caught on fire? What is something happens? Things happen all the time,” neighbor Judy Mandeville said. “It’s all woods. Is there any gas or oil still in those cars?“
Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli Hunt sent LeClerc a letter saying the city would help expedite the removal of the cars.
LeClerc just hopes finally that is true.
“Well I am hoping that this will get resolved in some way shape or form,” she said.
Mr Gaffney has until April 24th to appeal the DBR’s decision, or begin the cleanup.
