Central Islip homes razed by town

Two Central Islip homes were demolished last week by the Town of Islip, marking the third and fourth dilapidated homes razed this year.

The “derelict and hazardous structures” on Ocean Avenue and Caleb’s Path, which were abandoned “for quite some time” and “had been left to decay by the property owners,” were removed as part of the town’s push to eradicate property eyesores and dangers, according to a news release issued by the town.

The Ocean Avenue house became “increasingly unsafe,” with weather and overgrown vegetation making it structurally unsound, and it was a target for graffiti, the news release stated. The structure on Caleb’s Path had suffered fire damage, leaving its roof open, making the structure unstable and prone to vermin infestations.

“My administration has made it a priority to rid our neighborhoods of these homes that present a threat to public safety and impact the quality of life of everyone who lives nearby,” Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter said in a statement. “We aren’t going to wait for someone to get hurt. We’re actively investigating complaints and enforcing our Town Code against these dangerous, dilapidated houses.”

The cost of the demolitions are added to the property owner’s tax bill, the town has said.