City to tear down dozens of Sandy-damaged homes

The city will demolish dozens of Hurricane Sandy-damaged homes in Staten Island and Queens.

Neighbors have complained about two abandoned homes at 774 and 776 New Dorp Lane on Staten Island since March. The duo and others determined by the Department of Buildings to be in danger of collapsing will be taken down in the coming weeks.

“The next wind storm or heavy storm is just going to push it down,” Jessica Abouabdallah, who lives behind the homes on Neptune Avenue, told DNAinfo. “It’s just a matter of time.”

While the DOB did not give DNAinfo an exact number of the homes to come down, it said that a few dozen will be demolished. Discussions with building owners have reportedly already started, as have preparations to tear down several of the structures.

Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm told DNAinfo that his office had a list of 60 homes in need of demolition across the borough.

NYC Build it Back program assistance will still be available to homeowners, even if the city demolishes their homes, a spokesman told DNAinfo. [DNAinfo] — Julie Strickland