Camden residents complain of 'illegal construction'

CAMDEN (WPVI) -- Buckling walls and cracked window supports have neighbors of one Camden home demanding action by the city.

They say the property owner of 608 Clinton Street is doing illegal construction work and that's putting their own homes in jeopardy.

Two weeks ago Mark Birts found the walls of his home shaking.

"I'm in the house and the walls are shaking and my art is shaking off the walls where my bed is," Birts said.

Now, it appears the front facade of Birts' home is pulling away.

The neighbor two doors down has the same problem.

They say the owner of 608 Clinton, Abed Abed, and his laborers were doing construction work on the home nearly two weeks ago.

They say during that work, their houses shifted.

"I'm not a contractor, but I know it's not safe. You see the window coming out from the frame and it's buckling at the top," Birts said.

These concerned neighbors called city building officials to complain.

A codes enforcer came out the next day and inspected the property.

"He red tagged the building, meaning it was not inhabitable," homeowner Maritza Cortez said.

A city spokesman says the Construction and Building Bureau has launched an investigation, but couldn't say whether the owner was doing work without a permit.

If that's the case, the owner could be fined.

Abed had supports constructed in front. He has been required to hire an engineer to determine permanent repairs and obtain a permit.

These homeowners want those repairs done quickly and their homes fixed.

"I just want this done properly. I just want everything repaired properly and with permits so we can have a safe area," Cortez said.

Action News has learned Abed has owned or owns dozens of properties in South Jersey. We've made repeated calls to him, but they haven't been returned.