Demolition Begins On Condemned Rocky Point Home

Demolition has begun on the condemned home teetering off the bluff at 347 Soundview Drive in Rocky Point.

Condemned by the Town of Brookhaven, the home has been on the verge of falling off the cliff and onto Friendship Beach in Rocky Point.

Keith Martone, on the Board of Directors for the North Shore Beach Property Owners Association, yelled out in joy as he drove up to the property to see the progress. The association now hopes to have their staircases repaired for the summer.

"We have three entry points, all were wiped out by Sandy," Martone said. "We started on Beach Road, [got] permits on Friendship and Broadway is next. We're hoping to have them all complete by the Fourth of July so people can actually have a beach season."

Councilwoman Jane Bonner and Superintendent of Highway Dan Losquadro were on hand for the demolition.

"It's gratifying to have been able to help expedite this process," Bonner said. "The NSBPOA is not being held hostage by this house anymore."

The process to tear down the house has been a difficult one as they had to acquire a demolition permit, communicate with LIPA to make sure electric was cut off, and more.

"It's not like they could just go in and knock down the house," Bonner said. "There's a house next door to it and if they're not careful about how they take this down that house would suffer as well."

Losquadro added, "We're happy to see this coming to pass. In speaking with the crew they're obviously being very responsive to the surrounding community. This is something everyone has known about for quite some time."

Bank of America owns the mortgage to the property and helped in the demolition process. Cabinets and other salvageable units will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.