After Men Fall At Abandoned Oyster Factory, Town Commences Litigation

EAST MARION, NY — Soon after two young men fell through the second floor of the abandoned and dilapidated former Oki-Do oyster processing plant in East Marion, Southold Town has responded to residents who implored the town for help to shore up the structure.

At its last meeting, the town board voted unanimously to authorize Southold Town Attorney Bill Duffy to pursue litigation against the owner of the property, located at 2835 Shipyard Lane, "to enforce town code and require that the property be brought into a condition that is not a danger to the community," Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said.

"The neighbors demand action. I don't blame them," Russell added.

At a recent East Marion Association meeting, Anne Murray told the crowd that residents, including members of the Cleaves Point Village Condominium Association, had expressed interest in meeting with Russell to discuss how the town could help to secure the site.

"The oyster factory has been derelict for a very long time," she said. "It's a dangerous site and kids have been going in there."

Some young people even recorded a YouTube video of the site and discussed a band performing inside during the summer, Murray said.

"It's obviously caused a lot of issues. We want the town to take some action on that," Murray said.

Another woman said it wasn't just Cleaves Point residents, but other residents in the area, too, that have concerns.

"I certainly welcome the opportunity to meet with community representatives from East Marion. I am sure recent events at Oki-Do have them concerned and I want to hear those concerns," Russell told Patch.

In March, two men fell through the second floor at the abandoned former Oki-Do oyster processing plant in East Marion, police said.

According to Southold Town Police, the accident occurred at 12:17 a.m. on March 8 on the premises of Oki-Do Ltd. located at 2835 Shipyard Lane.

Dean Giannopoulos, 20, and Vincent Inzone, 20, both of Lake Ronkonkoma, were inside the abandoned factory when, while walking inside, the second floor gave way, police said.

The pair fell approximately 20 feet onto a cement floor, sustaining injuries, police said.

East Marion and Greenport Fire Departments responded; Inzone was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital via Suffolk County Police Department aviation and Giannopoulos was transported to Eastern Long Island Hospital by East Marion Fire Department ambulance for treatment of their injuries, police said.

No criminal charges were filed and the investigation is ongoing, police said.

Photo: Google Maps; video courtesy of YouTube.