Town moves against two problem building owners
by Tiffany Elliott

The Town of Oyster Bay took action against two Massapequa businesses at its last board meeting, directing that one be shut down and the other razed.

Town spokeswoman Phyllis Barry said that the Town has received numerous complaints in November about property at 175 Veteran's Boulevard and following that, obtained a search warrant and inspected the site, finding 16 violations as well as construction that resulted in what appeared to be 22 separate living spaces.

"The owner was renting out the site as a rent by-the-week boarding house," said Barry who said the building contained no fire alarms, did not have adequate plumbing and had an illegal kitchen.

The owner of the property disagrees and said the town is mistaken in its assessment of what was going on at the site.

"I only had one apartment that has a legal certificate of occupancy and had a family living in it," said owner Otto Pulse following the meeting.

"I was merely renting space to other businesses and when the Town asked, I evicted them. The Town is confused about my certificate of occupancy and said that I couldn't rent out to other businesses, which isn't true."

In top photo, Oyster Bay town acted to remove residential living units and other code and building violations at 175 Veterans Blvd., Massapequa. Above, longstanding problems at gasoline station 4262 Merrick Rd., resulted in the town's decision to raze building.

The building houses two storefront offices, both with a second floor. Over the 35 years Pulse has owned it, several businesses operated there, including Plus Computer Service, AAA Deca Employment Agency, a music store and Northern Productions. Pulse said he also lives in the building, owns some of the businesses and rents to the others.

The building, in a commercial area next to the Long Island Railroad, is zoned a neighborhood business. The case is due back in court on Monday, March 5. Pulse's attorney, Rodney Drake of Bohemia, did not return phone calls.

In a second case, the Town ordered that a gasoline and service station, Miele Auto Sales and Repair, at 4262 Merrick Road at Division Avenue, be demolished. The town maintains that the owner has failed to maintain the site and has received numerous violations for having an unsafe building.

"After the property is cleaned up, the owner will be billed through his tax bill for the work," said Barry.

Several days after the town's decision, the site looked more like a parking lot than a gas station with more than two-dozen cars lining the property and no room to get fuel.

Employees there said they were completely unaware of the situation. The owner, who an employee said was named only "Paul," did not return our phone calls for comment.

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