Farmingville, NY – On February 8, Councilman Dan Panico and the Brookhaven Town Board held public hearings to determine whether two abandoned and dilapidated “zombie houses” in Mastic Beach were unsafe as defined by Chapter 73 of the Town Code and pursuant to an independent engineer’s report. After a detailed presentation by the Town Law Department, the Board voted unanimously that the houses, located at 136 (left) and 719 (right) Riviera Drive, were indeed unsafe and should be demolished.
Both houses sustained severe flooding and wind damage during Super Storm Sandy in October 2012 and have remained in disrepair ever since. The property owners now have 30 days to decide whether to demolish the houses themselves or to have the Town’s Department of Recycling and Sustainable Materials Management perform the demolition and debris removal. If the Town does the work, a lien is placed on the property which will then appear on the property owner’s tax bill. The County reimburses the Town and then they collect the money from the property owner.
Councilman Panico said, "In the first month since the transition of the former Village to the Town, we are setting the tone and raising the standards in the area, this is only the beginning. We will use every authority and every facet of local government to raise the quality for all."
Division of Public Information - Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill
Farmingville, NY 11738
Phone: 631-451-6595