Toxic refuse is something that we all know exists in New Jersey. But new data shows that there are quite a few toxic sites in New York City too, including several on the Upper West Side.
Much of the toxic mess is a result of gas tank leaks, according to Brick Underground, which first published the map. Gasoline leaks from automobiles are a central concern for people living near the proposed site for a new Jewish Home Lifecare nursing home — construction at the site could spread the lead that leaked out with the gas.
Building owners might want to check out some of the data, because they can sometimes be on the hook for cleaning up.
“It’s buyer or investor beware,” says Nancy Jorisch, a senior data analyst for PropertyShark, noting that folks might find themselves responsible for clean-up duties even if they weren’t to blame for the original toxic mess.
“Gas tank leaks are a major concern,” she says. “[The gas] can migrate long distances through soil,” ultimately affecting a property you purchase that’s seemingly far enough away from the site of the leak.
That said, evidence of a toxic site isn’t cause to panic.
“People shouldn’t panic if they see an icon near a property they’re looking to buy,” she says. “Not all icons are equally serious and some issues are much more benign than others.”
We’ve pasted the Upper West Side section below, along with a legend for pinpointing the nature of the toxic mess. To zoom in further, use the interactive map at Property Shark.
what should us ordinary citizns do about this and is it harmful to us living in a zone?