COPIAGUE, NY – The Town of Babylon demolished an empty, neglected 25,000-square-foot former missile factory in Copiague this week.
The building, located on S. Strong Avenue, was deemed a “public nuisance” and threat to the safety of the community, officials say. The property was torn down on Thursday after it sitting vacant for 17 years.
According to Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, the property once held a missile-component test facility, as well as a manufacturing facility, a wallpaper production company and a car and boat repair facility.
During the demolition on Thursday, Schaffer listed some of the dangers of the building including the fact that the property was damaged by a large blaze in 2015, which was thought to be started by squatters. There were also other property damage spotted in the building such as the tin roof which had flown off in previous storms, the crumbling facade and several instances of vandalism. In addition, an unsafe makeshift skate park that was created on the property was discovered during a tour of the building with Senator Chuck Schumer.
The building was so dilapidated that it was cited by New York DEC in 2011 as a “significant threat to public health or the environment.”
“This property has a long and uniquely sorted history and I can speak on behalf of the Town of Babylon and entire community that I’m glad to see it finally come down, I’m tired of this and I know everyone else is tired of it, too,” Schaffer said. “I would like to thank the New York State DEC and the Copiague Fire Department for cleaning up this property and keeping it safe. I look forward to future development on this site.”
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