Neighbors Ask the Village to Safeguard Historic Scarsdale Home

Broken windows at 27 Woods LaneAn unoccupied home on Woods Lane in Edgewood has become a target for teen parties and vandalism. On Saturday night June 7, neighbors report that a “large group of teens had a party inside of 27 Woods and were dispersed by the police.” The home now has broken windows and damage to the breezeway.

Why is the house empty? As background, the owner applied to the Village to tear the home down and subdivide the lot, in order to build two homes on the site. Neighbors waged a successful campaign to preserve the home and it was deemed to be historic by the Committee for Historic Preservation and the Scarsdale Board of Trustees.

Rather than rent it or sell it, the owner has left the home empty, possibly in an attempt to neglect it until it is structurally unsound and demolition is the only option.

A damaged breezeway

At the June 9 meeting of the Village Board, a few residents addressed the board and urged the Village to require the owner to repair and maintain the home, which is required under Village code.

Linda Killian of 1 Forest Lane said, “What is happening to this property is very distressing. There is no exterior maintenance and no lighting. The plants are overgrown and the breezeway door flaps open. The neglect has made this home an invitation to crime. I shared my concerns with the building department. Saturday night’s incident highlights the risk of crime. The property was vandalized and littered with beer cans. The breezeway was destroyed. Windows are broken. As of 6 pm tonight the lawn was mowed but there are beer cans and the driveway is covered with broken glass. I am here to highlight the urgency. What’s next? Arson? Squatters? I know you have enforcement powers to make the owners repair the damage and maintain the home."

"We started by protecting an historic property but now it is a safety issue. More serious crimes can be in the offing. Move with decisiveness and do it expeditiously.”

Maura Lee who lives next door to the house said, “There is no attention to the house. We fought for this house not to be demolished and it is disturbing that they are waiting for it to fall in. There are actions that can be taken, and penalties. It is very disturbing to see what is going on right now.” She later said, “This is a historic home with no one attending to it – it is completely neglected. Don’t let it go so far that we can’t remedy it.”

Jordan Copeland sent the following letter to the Village:

Dear Mayor Arest, Members of the Village Board, Village Manager Marshall, and parties mentioned within,

I am writing with urgent concern about the security and condition of 27 Woods Lane.

Last night, a very large group of young people entered and occupied the vacant house before being dispersed by the police. Today there is trash and broken glass on the property and on Woods Lane, as well as visible damage to the house’s windows. Based on neighbor observations, this may not have been the first such unlawful entry.

As you know, in 2023 the Committee for Historic Preservation and the Board of Trustees each found that 27 Woods Lane met the preservation criteria and denied a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition. In 2025, the New York State Supreme Court upheld that decision. The house has now remained unoccupied for three years.

The current situation requires prompt attention. Scarsdale has seen what can happen when a protected property is allowed to deteriorate; after the CHP denied demolition of the Marx estate at 15 Gatehouse Road in 2007, that house was allowed to deteriorate until demolition became the only practical option in 2012. The damaged windows (and degraded roof) at 27 Woods Lane make action especially important.

27 Woods Lane

This is both a public safety issue and a historic preservation issue. An unsecured vacant house invites repeated unauthorized entry and creates risks of injury, fire, vandalism, and neighborhood disturbance. It also exposes the structure to deterioration from water intrusion, vermin, and neglect.

The Village Code provides clear authority to act. Chapter 134 requires buildings to be maintained in compliance with the New York State Property Maintenance Code, which places responsibility on the owner to keep structures and exterior property clean, safe, secure, and sanitary. Scarsdale Code § 132-65 specifically addresses unsafe buildings and recognizes that vacant or abandoned properties that are not properly secured can become an “attractive nuisance” and a source of congregation, which has already occurred here. That provision contemplates requiring such buildings to be secured and repaired to a safe condition.

I respectfully ask that the Village direct the Building Department to inspect 27 Woods Lane immediately and, if warranted, issue an order requiring the owner to:

-Secure all doors, windows, and other entry points;

-Repair any damage that allows unauthorized access or exposes the house to further deterioration;

-Remove trash, broken glass, debris, and other hazards from the property and adjoining public areas; and

-Maintain the property going forward in a safe, secure, and sanitary condition.

If the owner fails to comply within the time required, I ask that the Village pursue the enforcement remedies available under the Code, including corrective action at the owner’s expense.

Thank you for all that you do to keep residents safe and protect our historic neighborhoods.

Sincerely,
Jordan Copeland
45 Woods Lane

Replying to the speakers at the meeting, the Village Attorney said, “With respect to the recent incident, It is an ongoing police investigation. The building department has issued violations. There is a mandate to maintain properties designated as historic. The Village will reach out to the owners to remedy the damage.We do value the historic nature of our community and the aesthetic.”

(Note: there is no police report available for the June 7 incident. It was redacted from the blotter.)