North Hempstead storefronts issued dozens of violations for overgrown weeds, officials say

The weeds, in some cases, were as tall as adults.

Robert Troiano Jr., a North Hempstead councilman, was driving down a pair of main roads — Prospect Avenue in New Cassel and Westbury Avenue in Carle Place — last month when he noticed weeds growing wildly in the public right of way in front of several storefronts and office buildings.

He alerted town officials, and then code enforcement issued an estimated 62 notices of violations to commercial properties for overgrown weeds on the two roads in July, according to Kevin Higgins, a town spokesman. The unkempt growth violated a part of town code requiring the "cutting of all weeds except trees, bushes and shrubs" to less than 4 inches on public rights of way.

Troiano said in an interview the untidy storefronts could be a deterrent to business in the community.

"It just smacked me in the face," he said. "Some of this was occurring in front of viable businesses. I don’t know how those owners walk into their store, or business, every day and don’t take notice."

North Hempstead had not yet turned those notices of violation into summonses by the first week of August, Troiano said, because the town extends a grace period to property owners.

Eighty-seven notices of violation for property maintenance issues — including but not limited to overgrown weeds — were issued across the town in July, up from 82 in June and 78 in May. 

"The town wants to encourage a healthy local economy, especially for small business owners," Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said in a statement. "Neglected storefront areas and sidewalks make shoppers less inclined to visit or spend money in a community so upkeep is in everybody’s best interest. It not only attracts visitors but more local investment."

New Cassel’s downtown has undergone revitalization efforts since 2000, Newsday has reported. Prospect Avenue has been a focus of those plans and is now home to a supermarket, a drugstore, a laundromat and more.

Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, a downtown planning organization, said in an interview it's "incumbent upon commercial property owners to care for their spaces."

"Every business district, to a degree that's possible, the properties should be well-maintained," Alexander said. "It's in their benefit having clean, well-managed properties."

In the Town of Oyster Bay, there are six open cases involving overgrown weeds at commercial properties, spokesman Brian Nevin said.

In North Hempstead, a violation was issued to the owner of 841 Old Country Rd. in Westbury, site of the former Harvest Diner, which burned down in 2019. It was not the first time. The owner has been issued multiple tickets for property maintenance violations over the years, including overgrown weeds, Higgins said.

The board earlier this month unanimously passed a resolution setting a public hearing for Sept. 16 to consider authorizing the highway department to "conduct property maintenance services at the property." The property owner would pay the expense, according to the resolution.

"The property in question is in an awful state and the owners have not responded to our court summonses," DeSena said in a statement. "But town law allows us to clean up the property and assess those costs to the owner’s tax bill. The upcoming public hearing is just part of due process."

The property owner, 841 Old County Road LLC, could not be reached for comment.

Storefronts were issued violations, including one on Westbury Avenue in Carle Place where a psychic is opening up shop.

The owner took control of the site in July and was not aware of the notice of violation until contacted by Newsday, said Robert Miller, who works as an assistant to the psychic. Miller told Newsday on Monday that the business had complied and removed the weeds. He said he had hired a contractor to maintain the right of way and prevent weeds from growing too tall in the future.

"It's a nonissue, and it'll never be an issue again," Miller said.

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.