Demolition resumes at Staten Island property amid stop work order

Demolition work resumed at 203 Franklin Ave. in New Brighton, prompting complaints from neighbors. City officials stated the work did not violate the active stop work order.

The property, once home to a 127-year-old building, was partially demolished in March. A stop work order was issued after complaints about the work continuing.

A city inspector was dispatched after a 311 complaint and determined the work was on the garage, which has a different building identification number than the original home.

The Department of Buildings spokesperson noted the stop work order is expected to be lifted once the structure is fully demolished. A violation for missing construction fence is planned.

Lindy Crescitelli, head of the New Brighton Civic Association, shared a photo showing workers demolishing the garage without a construction fence, expressing frustration with the situation.

Earlier inspections found multiple violations, including lack of a superintendent, missing demolition plans, and an improperly used excavator. A stop work order was issued, but work continued, leading to another violation.

A hearing regarding the violations was postponed from May 20 to January, according to Department of Buildings records. In November 2025, a developer finalized a purchase of the property built in 1899 for about $410,000, according to city property records. That was about $100,000 less than similar sales in the Hamilton Park area of New Brighton dating back to 2020.

The property, part of the same family for decades, fell into disrepair under the previous owner, who paid a $6,740 penalty for unsafe conditions in 2024, according to the Department of Buildings.