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Lenox Avenue McDonald's is an Eyesore, Frustrated Neighbors Say

By Gustavo Solis | October 1, 2014 3:14pm
  Residents say a McDonalds near the Lenox Terrace housing complex has become an eyesore. The fast food chain's sign fell off six months ago, exposing brick and wires. It has not been touched since.
McDonald's
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HARLEM — They are not lovin’ it.

Residents say a McDonald's near the Lenox Terrace housing complex has become a neighborhood eyesore.

The fast food joint's sign fell off six months ago, employees said, exposing the brick facade, electrical wiring and florescent light bulbs. 

“It looks absolutely terrible,” said Rich Ledson who lives on 138th Street. “I walk past it every day."

The restaurant, located at 444 Lenox Ave., is steps away from the homes of both Congressman Charles Rangel and former Governor David Paterson and managed by Olnick Organization, the same company that oversees Lenox Terrace.

The McDonald's sign fell down during an electrical fire in the spring, according to an employee at the franchise. The ceiling was also damaged during the fire. There are leaks in the corner of the restaurant whenever it rains, he added.

He said they have asked Olnick to fix it but their request has been ignored.

"If we could fix, it we would," he said.

The employee did not give his name because he was not authorized to speak to a reporter.

Olnick did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

A spokeswoman for the fast food company, who declined to give her name, said that the company received approval from the city for plans to fix the front by the end of October, but the Department of Buildings said they have not received any applications for that property since 2012.

The DOB did receive a complaint that part of the awning was hanging from the wall in June. They sent an inspector and did not find any violations, DOB spokesman Alexander Schnell said.

Residents don't care who fixes the sign as long as it gets done.

"It's not a mom and pop shop," said Ledson. "You would think McDonald's would pressure the building to fix it."

Besides being an eyesore, residents say they have seen parts of the sign dangle from the wall and it could become dangerous.

"What if something falls?" asked Cimeya Jones, a student that lives on West 129th Street. "They need fix this."