County To Tear Down Dilapidated Inwood Building

Last week, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced that the county would be demolishing a blighted and dilapidated building in Inwood. The structure, located at 175 Roger Ave., is a county-owned property that has been an eyesore in the community for years.

Curran was joined at her announcement by Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford, New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky, New York State Assemblywoman Missy Miller, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen and Town of Hempstead Councilman Bruce Blakeman.

“This Rogers Avenue property has been an eyesore to the Inwood community for far too long,” said Curran. “However, dramatic progress is in sight. Today marks the first step to cleaning this location up and returning the property to our tax roll.”

The former site of Rockaway Metal Products Inc., the now-dilapidated building has been abandoned for about 28 years. Over time, the roughly 85,000-square-foot site, which the county acquired in 1995, was damaged by fire and became an unsavory hangout. The United States Environmental Protection Agency declared the 66-year-old building a Superfund Site because of hazardous materials.

"Abandoned buildings like this are not only eyesores, but severely drive down property values," Gillen said. "This is an important and long overdue step towards redevelopment and one that I’m pleased to take part in and witness."

The demolition plan, which was approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, is expected to take about three months. The county bid the work to Watral Brothers, Inc. and it will cost $1.649 million. The contractor will begin along the south property line abutting the residences; first installing a protective mesh then demolishing the south wall by hand. All of the remaining demolition will be done with heavy equipment beginning on the north side and working towards the center of the property. Demolition debris will be removed continuously throughout the process.

“This property has been a nuisance to the community and to the Hempstead Town Building Department for nearly a decade and I could not be happier that it will soon end!” said Blakeman. “I am extremely grateful that County Executive Curran’s promise to move forward with the demolition on an expedited basis has come to fruition.”

Photo courtesy Nassau County