Neighbor Complaints Led to Zombie Home Demo in Massapequa
Complaints from neighbors led to the demolition of a zombie home in Massapequa.
Local neighbors gathered with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino as the town’s highway crew took down the dilapidated home on Alhambra Road. The longtime eyesore was recently court-granted for demolition following multiple complaints from local neighbors.
“This property has been inspected by our workforce several times, with multiple violations cited for lack of maintenance,” said Saladino. “Town personnel repeatedly found deplorable conditions as this property showed clear signs of neglect. Unfortunately, the property owner did not fulfill any opportunities to clean it up but fortunately, our Quality of Life Task Force stepped in to help our residents.”
According to a press release, inspectors discovered a variety of code violations, including overgrown vegetation, deterioration or even lack of walls, debris strewn throughout both indoors and outside, damaged or missing ceilings, and overall deterioration. While the condition of the property worsened over time, the town continued efforts to keep the property safe to the surrounding neighborhood while pursuing legal action.
“The great success of our Task Force really speaks for itself, as we’ve now successfully demolished more than two dozen homes since its inception,” Saladino added. “Through the diligence of our Town team – our building and legal professionals – we were successful in receiving the court’s go-ahead to proceed with demolition of this property.”
The Town Code Enforcement Bureau of the Department of Planning and Development is charged with the enforcement of all codes, rules and regulations pertaining to zoning, housing and public safety. It is expressly designed to handle requests of citizens regarding possible violations. To file a complaint, or to register a zombie property in your neighborhood, click here.