Laurel Street zombie home demolished

On May 20, councilman Dan Panico (pictured) was on hand when the town demolished a vacant and abandoned zombie house at 7 Laurel Street in Mastic Beach. The long-abandoned house was the source of resident complaints, leading to numerous Town of Brookhaven housing code violations. It was demolished in accordance with Chapter 73 of the Town Code, which provides a fast track to rid neighborhoods of unsafe structures. The cost of demolition and debris removal is the responsibility of the property owner, and the town places a lien on the property that is then placed on the tax bill. The county reimburses the town and then collects the money from the property owner. “This neighborhood is cleaner and property values rose instantly with the demolition of this decrepit house,” said Panico.