News Release
For Release: Monday, December 21
Contact: Frank Baraff 914-469-3775

Orange replaces blighted building at 209 Lincoln Avenue with new two family house. Additional blighted buildings to be demolished on Monday, December 21 at 9:00am at Henry and Day Streets

On Monday, December 14th, Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. held a ribbon cutting for a new two family house at 209 Lincoln Avenue. The site once held a dilapidated long-term blighted one family house dating to 1864 that was among the most in need of demolition in Orange.

The Orange Department of Planning and Community Development worked with the property’s new owner, Michaelangelo Forgione to demolish the old building and build a new house. The house is a beuatiful two-family rental unit with two bedrooms in each unit.  The kitchen cabinets were purchased from Industrial Edge USA, appliances were purchased from Karl's Appliance and the trees/shrubbery was purchased from Orange Garden Supply,  all Orange retailers. 

Michaelangelo Forgione was the developer.  Forgione Construction is a long term business in Orange. One of the units has been rented by an Orange Fire Department employee. Among those present at the ribbon cutting were Mayor Hawkins, Mr. Forgione, and Valerie Jackson, Director of Planning and Development and members of the Planning and Development staff.

Curtiss Webb (Public officer), Wendy Brown (Housing Coordinator), Valerie Jackson, Khalfani Alleyne (Code Enforcement Inspector), Police Officer and Michaelangelo Forgione.

Michael Forgione, Jr., Valerie Jackson, Michaelangelo Forgione; Mayor Hawkins & Curtiss Webb, Khalfani Alleyne, Jauhara Pressey (assistant UEZ Coordinator)

The demolition on Monday:
Five dangerous blighted buildings at Henry and Day Streets will be demolished Monday, December 21 at 9:00am. In July, a new owner, South Day Henry Realty Associates LLc purchased the properties, which had been ordered demolished by the City. Since the purchase, the new owners have removed debris and cleaned up the properties. They have secured CCI Construction to demolish the properties and are developing plans to redevelop the parcel. 

Statement by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
“Our Quality of Life Task Force continues to rid the City of Orange of problem properties and to demolish unsafe structures.  Our Planning and Development Department works with the property owners to redevelop the sites. The wonderful new house at 209 Lincoln Avenue is an example of what the City can accomplish working with a public spirited developer.

After the demolitions at Henry and Day, we will seek to have the properties redeveloped in keeping with the scale and appearance of the surrounding neighborhood.”