Huntington Targets Two Pius Rental Properties
/By Andrew Wroblewski
awroblewski@longislandergroup.com
76-A E. 3rd St. in Huntington Station is controlled by Catco Associates LP, a company owned by landlord Donald Pius, and is being targeted by the Town of Huntington due to alleged code violations.
Town of Huntington officials want to suspend certificates of occupancy for two Huntington Station rental properties they say are controlled by Catco Associates LP, a company owned by landlord Donald Pius.
Huntington’s action is prompted by a complaint regarding one of Catco’s properties and town inspections at several of them, according to a town-issued release.
Huntington Town Attorney Cindy Elan-Mangano sent a notice dated Oct. 14 to Northport-based Catco that states “unless the unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous conditions” found at 76-A E. 3rd St. in Huntington Station and 11 Allison Court in Huntington Station were addressed by Oct. 23, then the town would move at an Oct. 27 hearing to suspend the addresses’ certificates of occupancy and revoke rental permits.
At 76-A E. 3rd St., town inspectors found multiple code violations, including no certificate of occupancy for a living space in the basement, according to Elan-Mangano’s notice. Dressers, clothes, chairs and a couch were discovered in the basement, according to the town.
At 11 Allison Court, inspectors found a “furnished basement” with no certificate of occupancy, along with electrical hazards, litter and debris, according to the notice. Bedrooms and a bathroom were also found in the basement, which were not shown on a third-party inspection report that was used to obtain the property’s rental permit, according to the town.
Under a resolution sponsored by Huntington Councilwoman Tracey Edwards and adopted by the town board in May, single-family rental houses within the town are required to be registered and undergo yearly inspections.
”This action serves notice that the Town intends to enforce all the provisions of the new code to ensure tenant safety,” Edwards said in a release.
In order to bring the properties into compliance, the release said, Catco must “correct all violations and obtain a certificate of occupancy for the basements at both addresses or restore them to an unfinished state.”
Pius, who Huntington officials said controls 72 rental properties in town, said Wednesday his properties are in “full compliance with all of the state and Town of Huntington codes.” He added that he has “complied with all of those allegations that are in those notices. I have rental permits on every one of my properties.”
Town spokesman A.J. Carter said Tuesday that Pius contacted the town to inform officials that the code violations had been addressed and to schedule a town inspection for Thursday. However, Pius could not confirm that appointment, saying his office handles appointments.
