Broken Promises; Scars Of Rebuild Mohawk Valley Remain
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: November 13, 2012
It's been a few months since we've reported about GroWest. But the scars
of certain community-based service organizations, like GroWest, still
remain with many Utica residents. Instead of restoring and preserving
his home, one Utica resident says Rebuild Mohawk Valley took advantage
of him. Eyewitness News spoke with the man and the organization 3 months
ago, and despite several promises, the man says nothing has been done.
"Rebuild Mohawk Valley is just another label put on GroWest," says Jim Albison, Utica resident.
Jim Albison applied to Rebuild Mohawk Valley in 2009. 3 years later, he says they've caused more harm then help.
"Came in and they ruined my house and I've paid high utilities bills since. And my heating bills are just sky high. It's kinda like a nightmare, just goes on and on and on," says Albison.
And with the cold weather approaching, Jim worries about these poorly insulated windows, his roof which is beginning to dip, and if his home can physically make it through the winter.
"The roof sags in certain places, so I don't know if that's sturdy enough to hold snow. And I'm frightened over it because we have bad winters up here," says Albison.
Eyewitness News spoke with Rebuild Mohawk Valley in August and the organization said immediate action would be taken. But since then..
"We've had meeting after meeting after meeting. I've been promised we'll start this weekend, that week comes and nothing, nothing, nothing. You call and nobody is ever around," says Albison.
Eyewitness News again reached out to Rebuild Mohawk Valley, and again, we got a similar response.
"Mr. Albison's been patient. Action shall be taken however, it's taken much longer than anticipated," says Dr. Taras Herbowy, President of Rebuild Mohawk Valley.
And when asked for a time-frame..
"Would prefer not to give a time because it does take a while but I can assure that I'm confident we'll be able to resolve this issue," says Dr. Herbowy.
"I don't know whats gonna happen with this project but I am not gonna go away. I promise everybody that," says Albison.
Jim urges any community members who have been negatively affected by Rebuild Mohawk Valley to come forward and say something.
"Rebuild Mohawk Valley is just another label put on GroWest," says Jim Albison, Utica resident.
Jim Albison applied to Rebuild Mohawk Valley in 2009. 3 years later, he says they've caused more harm then help.
"Came in and they ruined my house and I've paid high utilities bills since. And my heating bills are just sky high. It's kinda like a nightmare, just goes on and on and on," says Albison.
And with the cold weather approaching, Jim worries about these poorly insulated windows, his roof which is beginning to dip, and if his home can physically make it through the winter.
"The roof sags in certain places, so I don't know if that's sturdy enough to hold snow. And I'm frightened over it because we have bad winters up here," says Albison.
Eyewitness News spoke with Rebuild Mohawk Valley in August and the organization said immediate action would be taken. But since then..
"We've had meeting after meeting after meeting. I've been promised we'll start this weekend, that week comes and nothing, nothing, nothing. You call and nobody is ever around," says Albison.
Eyewitness News again reached out to Rebuild Mohawk Valley, and again, we got a similar response.
"Mr. Albison's been patient. Action shall be taken however, it's taken much longer than anticipated," says Dr. Taras Herbowy, President of Rebuild Mohawk Valley.
And when asked for a time-frame..
"Would prefer not to give a time because it does take a while but I can assure that I'm confident we'll be able to resolve this issue," says Dr. Herbowy.
"I don't know whats gonna happen with this project but I am not gonna go away. I promise everybody that," says Albison.
Jim urges any community members who have been negatively affected by Rebuild Mohawk Valley to come forward and say something.
