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City to Demolish Dozens of Sandy-Damaged Homes in Staten Island and Queens

By Nicholas Rizzi | August 27, 2013 7:37am
 The homes at 774 and 776 New Dorp Lane will be demolished by the city, after residents complained for months about them.
774 and 776 New Dorp Lane
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STATEN ISLAND — Dozens of homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy in Staten Island and Queens have been slated for demolition by the city, including two abandoned homes on New Dorp Lane neighbors have complained about for months.

Homes that Department of Buildings inspectors determined were in danger of collapsing and posed a safety risk will be taken down by the city in the coming weeks, a source said.

The city did not confirm the number of homes set to be demolished, only saying a few dozen. But discussion with building owners has started and preparations are underway to tear down several already, the source said.

The city did not give out specific addresses of the homes slated to be torn down, but said some of the homes put on the list were there because of neighbors’ complaints — including a pair at 774 and 776 New Dorp Lane, near Cedar Grove Avenue, the spokesman said.

In March, neighbors started to ask the city to take down both homes, which were abandoned by their owners and damaged during Sandy.

“The next wind storm or heavy storm is just going to push it down,” Jessica Abouabdallah, 28, who lives behind the homes on Neptune Avenue, told DNAinfo New York. “It’s just a matter of time.”

Abouabdallah said the home reeked of mold, the outside concrete wall of the home that faces her backyard had a large crack in it and the wood beams from the roof could be seen.

Residents and politicians have also previously complained of abandoned Sandy-damaged homes that needed mold remediation or to be demolished, and Rep. Michael Grimm said his office had a list of 60 across the borough.

Homeowners would still be eligible for assistance in rebuilding or relocating with the NYC Build it Back program if the city demolished their homes, the spokesman said.