Brookhaven demolishes longtime vacant home in Shirley

Brookhaven authorities have torn down a Shirley house that they said had been vacant for at least five years.

The two-story home on Baybright Drive had racked up “numerous” violations of town and state building and fire codes, Brookhaven officials said in a news release. The house posed “a public nuisance and a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the neighbors,” the release said.

The home was demolished on Oct. 11 after the property’s owner failed to either address violations or respond to town notices that the structure would be razed, officials said.

“We are continuing the most aggressive crackdown on suburban blight in the history of Brookhaven, most recently with the demolition of the burnt-out structure,” Councilman Dan Panico, who represents Shirley on the town board, said in a statement. “As each of these houses come down, property values in the immediate area rise, along with the quality of life of residents.”

The costs of demolishing the house and removing debris will be added to the property owner’s tax bill, town officials said.