LYNN — A Chancery Court home that has been the site of at least 20 overdoses in the past five years could be headed for demolition.
The City Council voted unanimously to set down a public hearing for 5-7 Chancery Court for next month, when the building’s fate will be determined.
The Council voted in November to demolish the house, but tabled the action because a resident, Richard Gonzalez, who spoke in opposition, said he would go into detox and that there would be no more problems with the building. But there was another overdose two weeks ago at the house, according to City Councilor Richard Colucci.
“Obviously, they didn’t clean up their act,” said City Council President Darren Cyr.
Colucci said the Council had tabled the matter to give the man the benefit of the doubt. The owner of the two-family home is listed as Krystyna Gonzalez, but her son, Richard, appeared before the Council in November, according to public records.
“We need to get this out of here,” Colucci said. “The people on the street are nervous and afraid … It’s a tragedy is what it is that people are dying and the guy (Gonzalez) is oblivious.”
Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec said police records show there have been 20 suspected heroin overdoses at the residence since 2013, with two fatalities. The two overdose deaths occurred in March 2014 and September 2015. Those figures don’t account for the Council-reported overdose from two weeks ago. The last police-reported overdose is from September.
“Obviously, it’s a house that we’re familiar with and that we have responded to for numerous calls over the years,” Kmiec said. “I know that we have received complaints over the years from neighbors about the house and activity there.”
But Krystyna Gonzalez and Angela Foley, Richard Gonzalez’s sister-in-law, said on Sunday there wasn’t an overdose at the residence two weeks ago, and were surprised to learn that the Council had set down another public hearing for demolition.
“Ricky did have a problem,” Foley said. “He’s getting help for it and there hasn’t been any overdoses. It’s been quiet around here.”
Foley said they were told at November’s Council meeting that action would be taken if there was another overdose, but there hasn’t been another one. She said they weren’t notified about the upcoming public hearing.
Foley said people from the nearby condominium complex, referring to 12 Chancery Court, wanted to buy their house years back to make it into parking. She said their property is wanted for a parking lot, which is where she thinks this is all coming from.
“We’ll have to go (to the public hearing) because there were no ODs,” Foley said. “That’s crazy. That’s nuts and they didn’t even tell us … That’s the reason why. They want this property.”
A letter was submitted to the Council from neighbors of 5-7 Chancery Court in favor of demolition. The letter, which was compiled by residents of Chancery Court, Sachem Street, Sachem Avenue and Sachem Terrace, was read at November’s Council meeting.
The residents described 5-7 Chancery Court as a longstanding blight on what is otherwise a nice neighborhood high up on Sagamore Hill, abutting the Diamond District — the residents said their neighborhood is comprised of hard-working families, single men and women, and senior citizens.
“With the opioid crisis in full swing, we find ourselves in the middle of a nightmare stemming from one house, 5-7 Chancery Court,” the letter reads. “For almost two decades, we have endured constant problems with the owners and tenants of this property. There has been a non-stop stream of drug use, buying, selling, foot, vehicle, scooter and even bicycle traffic literally 24 hours a day on a daily basis.
“Horns blasting, lights flashing, people yelling from inside and outside announcing their arrival or requesting permission to enter are a daily and nightly occurrence, as is the vulgar screaming that happens and is associated with needing a fix or withdrawing from a high.”
The letter reads that the writer is speaking for him or herself, and for many neighbors who were too afraid to appear at the meeting and address the Council, for fear of being identified or targeted by the owners and/or occupants of 5-7 Chancery Court and those who frequent the property.
“We are tired of being woken up at all hours of the night, embarrassed to have friends and family visit because of the continuous activity, afraid of letting our children play outside or walk our dogs for fear of picking up or stepping on a discarded needle or being accosted by a junkie,” the letter reads.
The 5-7 Chancery Court home was built in 1910 and has an assessed value of $257,200 — the total property assessed value is $365,500, according to land records.