Amityville sets hearing on 'zombie house' law

Amityville trustees will hold a public hearing March 14 for a “zombie house” law that would make it easier for officials to condemn abandoned buildings.

The law would give officials broad grounds to condemn buildings deemed unsafe and would give owners 10 days in most cases after notification by authorities to fix or secure the buildings. After that, trustees could order remedies including demolition. In emergency cases, trustees could order immediate remediation.

The law lists conditions under which a building could be condemned, including deteriorated walls and inadequate sanitation facilities, but would also give trustees the power to condemn a building if it endangers the “general welfare” of Amityville residents.

Some of these structures were abandoned during the mortgage crisis; others were damaged during weather events. The village has about 50 such buildings, village Attorney Richard Handler said.