Sandy-Ravaged Island Park Village Hall Demolished To Make Way For New Building

ISLAND PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – After Superstorm Sandy, the Village Hall in Island Park was destroyed. But now, 2 1/2 years later, residents will be seeing a new building constructed.

As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, employees were forced to work in a trailer in the back of what used to be Village Hall, which was damaged beyond repair after the storm.

But now, residents are more than happy that Village Hall is being knocked down and a new building is being constructed.

Listen to Sandy-Ravaged Island Park Village Hall Demolished To Make Way For New Building

"It's not only the building; it was the whole town was under water," said Nick DeMattao, who has lived in Island Park since the 1960s. "And I had 4 foot of water in my house," he said.

DeMattao said the damaged Village Hall has served as a reminder of what he went through during Sandy.

"I was waiting for it to get knocked down," he said.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray did the honors of using a pay loader to knock down part of the old Village Hall.

"Costs to Hempstead town for this demolition are really not significant at all, as we own the equipment and we have the employees to operate the machinery," she said.