BAYSIDE, Queens, N.Y. — A quiet, tree-lined neighborhood in Queens has become the center of a growing dispute over a man residents accuse of taking over a $1.1 million home and refusing to leave.
The property at 2340 205th St. had reportedly remained vacant after longtime homeowner Richard Klibschon died in 2018. Klibschon lived alone and reportedly had no family.
For years, the house sat empty. Then, in March 2024, neighbors say they noticed an unfamiliar man occupying the property. Residents now identify the alleged occupant as Vernon Glass, whom court documents have described as an “illegal occupant.”
The situation has frustrated people living nearby, who say they have repeatedly attempted to get authorities involved.
Neighbors Say Nothing Has Worked
Residents reportedly contacted police, reached out to elected officials and even pursued the matter through court proceedings. Yet the alleged occupant remains at the property.
One neighbor told The Post that a maintenance worker sent by the bank attempted to enter the house but reportedly could not get inside because the locks had been changed.
The property has since become a source of growing concern for people who live nearby.
Court papers reportedly describe residents as “increasingly apprehensive, uneasy and very concerned” about the man’s presence. One neighbor said the alleged occupant had been staring down people in the area, adding to the unease.
“The neighbors are just disappointed,” the resident said. “We all feel like this is like a slap to our faces.”
The resident said homeowners continue paying mortgages and taxes while the alleged squatter has remained in the property for years.
Congressman Calls Situation ‘Awful’
The controversy has also attracted the attention of local politicians. U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi described the situation as an “awful situation,” saying a fraudster was allegedly damaging the quality of life in the neighborhood.
“While it’s not a federal issue, we all need to do everything we can do to right this wrong,” Suozzi said, according to ABC Eyewitness News.
The comments reflect the frustration among residents who say they cannot understand how someone accused of occupying a property without permission can remain there for such an extended period.
The case has also raised broader concerns about how property owners and communities deal with alleged squatters when legal proceedings become complicated.
Accused Squatter Allegedly Has Done This Before
The Bayside dispute is reportedly not the first time Glass has been accused of taking over someone else’s property.
Glass was previously accused of moving into a vacant Nassau County home in 2018, changing the locks and renting the property to three people for more than $9,000.
That case eventually ended with Glass being removed from the property. He was also sentenced to five years of probation on a misdemeanor in December 2019, according to the report.
Glass and a female acquaintance were also allegedly involved in another dispute involving a home in Flushing. Court documents reportedly accused them of taking over the property “by force” and “without permission.”
The homeowners later dropped their lawsuit after the property went into foreclosure and financial obligations continued to accumulate.
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Million-Dollar Home Remains at Center of Dispute
After those earlier allegations, Glass is now accused of occupying the Bayside property, where neighbors say the situation has dragged on for more than two years.
On Sunday, a red BMW and a gray Chevrolet Corvette were reportedly parked in the driveway. A man at the property confronted a Post reporter and told the reporter to leave “his” property.” The man also accused the neighborhood of being racist before quickly returning inside.
When asked for comment, he later said, “Yes, but I don’t want to be on the news,” before rushing into the house. The exchange has only added another layer to a dispute that residents say has already gone on far too long.
Residents Want Their Neighborhood Back
For Bayside residents, the issue goes beyond ownership of a single house.
They say the alleged occupation has affected their sense of security and changed the atmosphere of a neighborhood they once considered peaceful.
The dispute remains unresolved, leaving residents waiting for authorities and the courts to determine what happens next with the property.
Meanwhile, the $1.1 million home remains occupied, while neighbors continue to argue that the situation should never have been allowed to continue for so long.
What do you think should happen when someone is accused of occupying a property without the owner’s permission? Share your thoughts in the comments.
