Some owners of houseboats in Seaford uprooted from their homes due to destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy in late October say that their lives are once again being thrown into chaos early this month.
Houseboat owners told Newsday that they were issued notices from the owner of a marina on Ocean Avenue as well as the Town of Hempstead that that their vessels must be me moved out by Friday. Two houseboats at the marina are docked with four others awaiting storm-related repairs in the marina's parking lot, according to Newsday.
From Newsday:
June Rose, one of the grounded house barge owners, said the marina owners' call for the houseboat owners to vacate has deepened the trauma of losing their homes to the storm.
The marina owners gave no reason why the vessels must move, she said, and the houseboat owners plan to fight the order in court.
"You don't throw this thing on the back of a pickup and go somewhere," said Rose of her 20-ton barge, Junique. "We're going to fight this eviction."
Town of Hempstead spokesman Mike Deery told Newsday that the notices issued the the vessel owners were due to the damaged houseboats not being fit for occupancy because they lack water, electricity and sanitary facilities. Deery said "the violation would be solved by repairing the boats and putting them back in the water", which owners have indicated they are in process of taking care of. He added that the notice does not carry a fine is and is not a court summons.
The owners of the marina, Robert Brahms and Eric Schwartz, could not be reached for comment.
