He lives in a van, down by the river — two vans in fact.
A nutty New Yorker is living rent-free in the West Village in a couple of junk-filled vehicles that he parks a few blocks from the Hudson River, while his neighbors shell out sky-high rents and mortgages.
“I’m not the cuckoo one living in the truck. They’re cuckoo for paying to live there,” said Jimmy Tarangelo, who parked his mobile duplex on Friday at West Houston and Greenwich streets — surrounded by multimillion-dollar homes, trendy shops and high-end eateries.
Tarangelo, 64, has lived in the tony neighborhood for 15 years. He started in a single van, but doubled up when his collection got too big.
Among his possessions are scooters, tripods, microwaves, boards, fans, lamps, chairs, bags, detergent bottles, stuffed animals, cans, an umbrella and a metal building lantern.
“One man’s trash is another person’s treasure,” he said.
“I’ve got a Zenith Trans-Oceanic radio. I bought it on eBay for $275. It’s an 11-band radio . . . And a replica of a vintage jukebox is another one of my valuable things.”
The Inwood native works odd jobs to support himself and also depends on the kindness of neighbors.
Tarangelo has become a neighborhood fixture over the years, with many who work and live nearby saying he doesn’t cause any trouble and that they even keep an eye on him to make sure he’s safe.
“I see him all the time. At least he has a van to pass the night in. He’s an integrated part of the neighborhood. He’s very shy. He never fights or yells,” said Oscar Luna, 36, an engineer who works in an office building on Greenwich Street.
Another worker, C.J. Arnedo, 30, said he worries about Tarangelo if he doesn’t see him puttering about his usual spot.
“He’s part of my daily routine. If I don’t see him, I’m like, ‘Is he OK?’ ” he said.
Others are less sanguine about the colorful local character.
“We all have rights, but he’s visiting himself on a neighborhood we spend thousands and millions of dollars to live in,” griped Jake Farrell, 70, a retired accountant. “Nobody really likes him.”