Politics & Government

Where Are the Eyesores in Your Town?

Tell us where the poorly maintained buildings are and find out what you can do about them.

 

An ill-managed, dilapidated home or building can be a source of unwanted attention in local communities. 

Through our "Empty in Smithtown" series, Patch has taken a look at some of these blighted properties and asked residents about their potential future use. However, we are sure there's a few more "eyesores" out there that haven't been brought to our attention yet.

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Contacting Town of Smithtown Building Department and Public Safety Department is one way residents can help take care of blighted properties. 

Under Smithtown Town Code, Smithtown town officials recognize that a blighted property can have a negative impact on surrounding properties, homes or business, and that they  have a right to step in and change. In section 221-1 it reads: 

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by reason of lack of maintenance and progressive deterioration, certain structures, properties and lots have the effect of creating blighting conditions and initiating slums, dangerous conditions and unsightliness and that, if the same are not curtailed and removed, the aforesaid conditions will grow and spread and will necessitate in time the expenditure of large amounts of public funds to correct and eliminate the same.

In June 2011,by creating a master list of 19 properties - that has since grown to 21. Smithtown officials authorized the Building Department to take action last month to head out and after receiving several phone calls from local residents. 

The town code, under section 112-25 A, defines unsafe buildings and structures by the following criteria:  

  • If they do not provide adequate egress which creates a fire hazard, or is otherwise dangerous to human life.
  • If they create hazards to safety or health due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, or abandonment. 

For questions or concerns regarding the town's code, residents can call the Building Department Director John Bongino at 631-360-7522. 

Do you have any building or homes in your community that are eyesores that you think belong on the blighted buildings list? If so, tell us where in the comment section below.


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