Owner's in jail and house is an eyesore

There was a time when the white, two-story house at 257 Decker Ave. didn't stand out among the charming row of houses that distinguish its Port Richmond block.

But the house in tatters has a strange history, and the resulting mess isn't likely to be cleaned up any time soon.

Its owner, Joseph W. LaForte, is behind bars. And eventually, the house will probably be used to pay back a portion of the $14.1 million he and his associates were convicted of bilking out of the victims of fake real-estate closings.

Neighbors ponder how to fix blight on Staten Island block