Elizabeth: Borough may be powerless regarding abandoned lots

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Elizabeth Borough council wants to know what can be done about residents using abandoned lots for their own purposes, and the answer may be very little.

“We have a lot of lots in Elizabeth Borough that are vacant lots that residents have decided they are going to take and use to store boats and other things,” said Councilman Andy Miklos.

Miklos said in many cases, the owners have passed away and the property has sat vacant for years, but is still in private hands. Solicitor Krisha DiMascio said there may not be much the borough can do to prevent the unauthorized use of the lots.

“If they are private, they can stay until the owner kicks them off,” DiMascio said. “After 21 years of maintaining the property, they can take it by adverse possession.”

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