Lynbrook's 'feather building' subject of

The Lynbrook Village Board decided to draft the findings of a blight study that was presented at its Aug. 13 regular board meeting. The study featured the much-discussed Mangrove Feather Factory.

Village Special Counsel Jack Libert addressed the board at Monday’s regular board meeting to find out his next step in the blight study process.

“What I would like tonight is the board’s permission to draft findings consistent with the adoption of a notice of intention to condemn,” Libert said. “That will be our next step, in other words if the board is so inclined to file a notice of intention to condemn.”

The study focused on the area south of Langdon Place, north of Saperstein Plaza (also known as Station Plaza), east of Ross Plaza and Lyon Place and west of Broadway, which encompasses 26 parcels.

Charles Voorhis, of Nelson, Pope & Voorhis LLC, an engineering and surveying firm based in Melville, presented the study to the board last month and said the area has tremendous attributes, although there has been an increase in the amount of the village’s building and police departments as well as the Nassau County fire marshal at the Feather Factory site, including reports of graffiti, squatting, skateboarding and trespassing.

“The location of the site with respect to the bus stop, train station and adjoining uses is such that allowing the site to remain in its current condition is considered dangerous and unacceptable,” the study read.

Voorhis said that a majority of the buildings within the study area are in good or fair condition, but three properties — 47 Broadway, 1 Station Plaza and 3 Station Plaza, which make up the former Feather Factory — are in deteriorated condition. He added that the Feather Factory was vacated around 2008, and that the complaints about the site have increased since then.

The board approved Libert’s request unanimously, although Deputy Mayor Alan Beach was not present for the vote.

According to Libert, after the board moves forward with its intention to condemn the property, it will have some time to negotiate with the owners. However, if a deal could not be made, Libert explained, the case would go to court, where the village would petition for a vesting order, which creates or transfers legal ownership of a property in place of a deed.

A third-party appraiser would then determine a fair price for the property. The owners could accept the payment or contest it, claiming that they are entitled to more money. “At the point that the initial payment is made and the judge signs the vesting order,” Libert said, “the village then owns the property.”