The End Of The Nassau Suffolk Lumber Yard

102 W. Main Street 2009 (photo NY Times)Since 2009 the site of Nassau Suffolk Lumber, 102 W. Main Street, Smithtown has been blighted. In 2009 the property owner, North Fork Management, owned by Salvatore DiCarlo violated a Smithtown stop work order and demolished buildings. The site has been in various states of disrepair since. Until now.

During the July 14 Town Board work session the site was the subject of discussion. The property owner, VEA 181st Realty Corp Salvatore DiCarlo, wanted the town to grant a waiver to its demolition plan which called for the removal of the concrete and debris sitting on the property for years. The owner was asking to be allowed to crush the debris and to store it in a berm on the property.  Supervisor Vecchio balked, “NO” he would not support a waiver. The owner had not developed the property and according to Vecchio was “playing the town like an old banjo.” 

one of the many piles of concrete on the site of the former Nassau Suffolk LumberAt that work session the Town Board decided to table the proposed waiver until August 11. Questions arose from residents almost immediately. Residents questioned the impact of grinding up the concrete and allowing it to be stored on the property. New York Avenue resident Kathy Albrecht sent letters to all the Board members expressing her concerns and pointing out possible health issues caused by the grinding. Residents vowed to attend the next Town Board meeting and to express their concerns.

Support for approving the waiver began to disappear with Councilman Wehrheim stating to Smithtown Matters that the Albrecht letter brought up important issues and he wanted to get answers. “Safety first” Councilman Wehrheim explained. After receiving the letter he sent a memo to Russ Barnett, director of Smithtown’s Department of Environment and Waterways. 

Before Councilman Wehrheim received a response Mr. DiCarlo moved forward with the original demolition plan removing the concrete from the site.  Not a week later heavy equipment was moved onto the property and concrete was hauled off the site. 

Residents were not notified, they were awakened to dust and noise as the clean-up began. Calls were made to town officials who responded by contacting Joe Arico at Building Department.  Joe Arico negotiated with the property owner to water the site down during the removal process minimizing the dust. According to Mr. Arico, the Planning Department was very aware of the history of the site and was working with the property owner to make sure everything was being done properly. Mr. Arico said the concrete removal was being done according to the original demolition site plan including the hours of operation. There was no requirement to notify the Town Board nor the residents. “Everything was in order.”

102 W. Main St. Smithtown - August 9, 2015Not everyone felt that this was acceptable. Residents questioned the speed with which the property owner changed his position from requesting a waiver to allow crushing and the 180 degree change to removal of the concrete. “It seems odd that while we were asking for tests on the concrete the owner dropped the waiver request and quickly removed the concrete” said Kathy Albrecht.

Councilman Wehrheim said he too was surprised by DiCarlo’s action saying he had received no advance notice about the removal of the concrete.

It remains to be seen whether residents will show up at the Tuesday, August 11th Town Board meeting. But one thing is apparent, for the first time in six years 102 W. Main Street is clear of buildings, construction debris and blight.