Spurred by residents who’ve had enough of zombie homes in their neighborhood, Town of Brookhaven officials have been focused on getting owners to clean up their act.
At the monthly meeting of the Pattersquash Civic Association, Sixth District Council Member Karen Dunne-Kesnig went over the status of some of the worst homes and the town’s legal efforts to remove them. The process involves a site visit by town investigators, demolition assessment, remedial action summonses, fines, and legal action.
To enhance its quality of life initiatives, the town hired attorney John Rouse, the former highway superintendent and county court judge, to represent it in court. During the process, property owners are given ample opportunity to correct the problems. If not, the town can get a court order to effectuate a demolition following a public hearing. Costs to board up and clean properties, unpaid fines, and demolition costs will then be attached to the property as liens.
“The process takes too long,” one resident at the civic meeting said. “I’ll be dead before these properties are cleaned up.” She suggested that when tenants are evicted, taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay to remove their belongings from the side of the road through the town’s garbage collection. “The cleanups should be put on the tax bill.”
The local properties currently on Brookhaven’s hit list include:
51 Grove Road, Mastic Beach: The evaluation is complete; it is not a candidate for demolition and will be further investigated. Summonses were issued, in court.
29 Johns Neck Road, Shirley: Summonses issued, owner is a corporation, no-show in court. Default judgment issued, will be demolished.
72 Elm Road E., Mastic Beach: Boarded up, owner deceased, town appealing to son to address it.
330 Elm Road West, Mastic Beach: Waste management violations issued, significant fines levied, judge granted more time for cleanup, investigators unable to access property for demolition assessment.
86 Magnolia Drive, Mastic Beach: Permit issued for a garage which neighbors complained became living quarters; town investigating.
184 Bayview Drive, Mastic Beach: Demolition evaluation pending.
148 Elder Drive, Mastic Beach: Under law department review.
277 Forest Road W., Mastic Beach: Court date pending.
Smith Point Motel: Reconstruction pending after fire in office building; town working with Suffolk Police to address resident complaints over prostitution, drug use, squatters, and dogs running loose.
Editor’s Note: Researching these properties online showed the cleverness of the Internet. When looking at Google street views of the dilapidated homes, ads for cleaning services pop up.