By DEBBIE ROSEN
Four-year-old Thomas Coronel and his twin brother David are afraid of the building next to their house. In fact, these two youngsters think there are ghosts there. The abandoned building on the corner of Warwick and Radcliffe Roads in Island Park with its washed out appearance, countless loitering cats, and creeking sounds coming from within has plagued residents for years.
But the tale of woe for these two boys doesn't end there. On the other side of the Coronel's house on Warwick Road is a dilapidated dwelling. Somewhere in the middle of it all live David and Thomas, along with their mom and dad, Cecilia and Alfredo Coronel.
The residents say they have worked for four years to refurbish their home and to be living in the middle of such a mess, is mind boggling to them. They wonder when their woes will turn to answered wishes. According to the Island Park Mayor, those dreams are close to being fulfilled.
"When we bought our house we thought it was a good opportunity for us," said Cecilia Coronel, about the handy man special they refurbished since moving in four years ago. "Now we live next to two ugly houses," she added. "My husband and I have tried to fix up our home, to make it better, and we have been asking about what's going on. You would think with the school right over there [Francis Hegarty Elementary School], something would be done," she said and pointed across the way.
Last week, Mayor Jacqueline Papatsos, said the situation on Warwick Road will soon be solved, although the mayor said it has taken longer than expected to get results. "I want to thank the residents in the village for being so patient," said the Mayor. "The building has been declared unsafe and we are currently in the process of having it condemned in order to take over the property. Once we do take it over, the building will be taken down immediately and a passive park will replace it."
According to Mayor Papatsos, the building was once home to residents who have passed away. Surviving family members expressed a desire to sell the property, which borders the Island Park Library parking lot. At the time, the library needed expansion and the school district put a referendum before the voters to purchase the property with the intention of using the area for additional parking for both the library and the elementary school. That library expansion plan failed and the abandoned building was not bought.
As time went on, tax liens on the building exceeded the home's value and the property was abandoned.
Currently, the Village declared the building unsafe and is in the process of having it condemned, allowing them to take ownership of the property. "We started the process of condemnation at the beginning of the year and it has taken longer than we thought," said the Mayor. "While we hit a couple of snags, nothing will stop the process. I hope at best it will take only a couple more months."
The Mayor said the hold up was due to a request by the judge for the village to provide additional paperwork.
The passive park will consist of a quiet area with grass and benches, which was planned in coordination with the village's "operation downtown project," a revitalization effort by the community to spruce up the area. "It will be a nice little area and hopefully will be ready for next year, when the Village of Island Park celebrates its 75th anniversary," said Mayor Papatsos, who also feels the park area will be a "nice place for parents waiting for children to come out of the Francis Hegarty Elementary School," which is just across the street.
With one problem on the way to a solution, the Coronel family continues to seek action regarding the other problemed home. "The building inspector has been there and made recommendations," said the Mayor. "We are in the process of notifying the owner, who will have a certain amount of days to comply. If they don't, the Village will do the work and put it on their tax bill and they will have to pay for it," she added.
Neither of the property owners could be reached for comment.
