Empty Amstel Light beer cans and used cigar wraps still lie scattered across the front porch of a multi-family home at 306 E. 206th St. between Bainbridge and Perry Avenues, despite the home ordered to be vacant. But there are tiny signs of improvement for a house that has been an eyesore in the Norwood neighborhood. 

The front door is barricaded by a large piece of wood as three garbage bags filled with trash sit on the porch. Empty buckets for plaster are assembled, mismatched pieces of wood rest against the house, and a disconnected pipe lies on the lawn. An orange construction cone stands to the left of the entrance stairs. Brand new windows have been installed on each floor of the home, a glance through reveals plenty of interior repairs are occurring. 

This slow restoration comes a year after Norwood resident Martin Brennan was found dead in the home last March by police. The house was then purchased for $580,403 in December with Raston LLC listed as the new homeowner. Records show the home is undergoing significant interior renovation including a new gas line for boilers, new light fixtures, and new finishes to the ceiling and floor. The installation of three wall-mounted boilers and two half-bathrooms along with the relocation of existing sinks, bathrooms, and gas range are also taking place. 

The project is a fixer upper, costing $128,500 in total. The timetable for completion remains unknown. 

Dwane Jolly, a resident who resides across the street from the home noticed the slight progressions. “It used to be a spot for squatters, but over the past few months I’ve seen construction guys cleaning it up. At one point there was a dumpster set up, and I saw them taking out old sheetrock,” said Jolly. 

Another resident sitting in his parked car said, “there are three workers [that come in and out] during the day, [most of] the work they do is in [inside] the house.” 

Three complaints relating to the home prior to the renovation period –two in 2018 and one in 2017–were filed with the City Buildings Department. One complaint in September 2018 was filed for having no window guards. Another complaint last year was filed after a large presence of squatters was found. A visit in early November showed that repairs for drywall, laminated door moldings, and baseboard replacement were in progress. However, a summons by the DOB was issued on the house for excessive debris.

“The smell of all those cats produced a crazy odor, I’m glad that it has gone away. The house actually looks on track to be livable,” said an unnamed resident.

Improvements to the electricity and plumbing will also be on the way. Several work permits were issued for the house by the DOB in April. The permits include one for general electric wiring for all three floors of the house and the second for installation of partition, plumbing fixtures. 

The property passed an Asbestos Assessment in March and has been certified in other fire-resistant inspection categories. The new owner and contractor did not respond to numerous requests for comment.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.