Town Tears Down Bethpage Zombie Home

On Monday, the Town of Oyster Bay tore down an abandoned home in Bethpage that had become an eyesore for nearby residents on Warwick Place.

The abandoned home, also known as a zombie home, was in violations of many requirements of the town building code, and was demolished with the cooperation of the new homeowner after lengthy legal proceedings.

"This home has been an eyesore in this community, and residents can now breathe a sigh of relief that this derelict property has been removed," Supervisor Joseph Saladino said.

The town's Code Enforcement Bureau first inspected the property in July 2017 following complaints from neighbors. While awaiting action from the homeowner, the town continued to monitor the property and perform cleanups as necessary. Last year, the town was notified that water was coming out of the home, and it was discovered that pipes burst inside the house. The town received a judge's order for permission to access the property last fall, at which time an interior survey was conducted.

The town's inspection found the home in very poor condition, with extensive interior damage, rotting floors and walls, mold and mildew, as well as rotting trash throughout. A new builder recently purchased the property and agreed to demolish the dwelling as per the conditions outlined in a stipulation of settlement with the town.

Councilman Lou Imbroto, who created the Town's Quality of Life Taskforce to address such issues in local communities, said, "Our residents should not have to bear such blights in their neighborhoods, nor should the town have to front the money for any cleanups or maintenance associated with these properties. We join our residents in taking great pride in our communities, and we have demonstrated time and again that we will do what's necessary to protect the quality of life in the Town of Oyster Bay."