Meadowmere Park residents call on town to clean up lot four years after house explosion

Four years after a home exploded in Meadowmere Park, neighbors say they’re still stuck with the scattered debris of the home on an empty lot that’s become an eyesore for the neighborhood. 

Jon Dowding

Nov 1, 2024, 10:12 PM

Updated 40 days ago

Share:

Four years after a home exploded in Meadowmere Park, neighbors say they’re still stuck with the scattered debris of the home on an empty lot that’s become an eyesore for the neighborhood. 
A home at 5 South St. exploded because of a gas leak back in 2020. The explosion seriously damaged both neighboring homes. 
The man who lived in the home when it exploded survived and his neighbors say he told them he plans to rebuild. The neighbors rebuilt their homes, but the lot still sits vacant. 
Deborah Lombardo, of Meadowmere Park, lives next to the home that exploded. She says the lot is filled with overgrown grass, flooding - and even rats. 
The Town of Hempstead continues to issue code violations for the lot, including one issued Friday.
Neighbors say, however, that no one is holding anyone accountable to clean up this lot. 
"It's just disgusting and it's about time that somebody could help us and do something,” she said. “I have PTSD from this. I was home by myself that night. I'm trying to move on, I can't. My neighbor is trying to move on. She can't. So it's like an ongoing thing."
News 12 reached out to the Town of Hempstead about the situation. A spokesperson for the town said they declined to comment on the matter.