Illegal rooming house occupied by college students condemned
A Stony Brook house that Brookhaven officials said was occupied by eight to 10 college students has been condemned for code violations.
The owner of the ranch-style house on Stony Brook Road was cited Friday for “numerous housing code violations,” and the owner’s STAR property tax exemption was revoked, town officials said in a news release.
Officials said that the house had been illegally converted to create apartments in the garage and basement, and that the basement included a coin-operated washing machine and dryer. The property owner also was cited for failure to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, for operating an illegal rooming house and for not having a rental permit.
“This was one of the worst cases of illegal student housing that we have seen in the Stony Brook area,” Brookhaven Supervisor Edward P. Romaine said in a statement. “Off-campus housing that is not in compliance with town building and fire codes threatens the health and safety of the students who reside there and the neighbors who live nearby.”
Town officials said that Stony Brook University officials cooperated with the investigation, and that the home’s occupants were offered dormitory rooms on campus.
Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.
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