Residents of the Haven Marina have to be out of their houseboats by July 31, according to Kathleen Sutherland, a 16-year resident of the marina.
In May, residents filed a lawsuit against the marina’s landlord, Michael Boromand, but both parties are currently trying to work out a deal to compensate the residents, said Anthony Piacentini, the marina’s lawyer.
“Nothing has been completely worked out yet, and at this time the details are irrelevant because anything can change, but I believe a settlement will be reached very soon,” Piacentini said. “Both sides are trying to compromise on a number to give some adjustment for the case.”
Both sides are due back in court on July 26, but Piacentini said that they hope to settle before the court date.
Piacentini said that Boromand and the marina’s co-owner, Ed Mayourian, want to clear the property and build condominiums on it. The owners will have to wait because a six-month moratorium was imposed on July 6.
Michael Frevola, the lawyer representing the residents, could not be reached for comment.
As the residents of the marina prepare for their departure, many of them are continuing to express anger.
“It’s disgusting — that’s all I can say,” Sutherland said. “It’s not our fault. That’s the only way I can put it.’’
On Friday, May 6, residents woke up to no electricity and no water, and vandals were blamed, but many believe something was tampered with and that vandals weren’t involved, residents said. During the June 1 Manorhaven Board of Trustee meeting, marina residents said they believed a marina resident, Nick Cyprus, was involved with the loss of electricity and water.
A Manorhaven village code enforcer, Kareem Buckley, said that while responding to a call about vandalism at the marina, he saw Cyprus doing something to the electrical pad. He said that wires were tampered with and that the conditions were not good. Cyprus said he wasn’t tampering with the wires, but instead he was trying to install a new panel.
“I was almost arrested for trying to fix the electric,” Cyprus said.
At the meeting, Piacentini said that he received a letter from Nassau County Fire Marshal Nicholas Corrado saying the maria conditions were unsafe, but given the situation the residents were facing, they were given leeway.
Residents who are renters in the marina have been having separate problems with the owners of their boats, said a renter who asked to remain anonymous. The renter said that they have been receiving constant knocks on their doors asking for rent payments and persistent reminders of when they have to be out.
There are approximately 30 houseboats in the marina, some owned by the residents, others rented. Currently, all of the residents are searching for other places to live.
“Everyone’s looking for an apartment or just somewhere else to go, because we have to be out by July 31,” said Fernando Cisternas, a resident of the marina for six months.
Cisternas said that the residents have been constantly pressured to pay rent and to start moving out, but it’s almost impossible when there isn’t a definite place to go.
The marina is allowing houseboat owners to leave their boats in the marina after July 31, as long as they are not living on them. Sutherland said that she was informed that her boat could remain in the marina until spring, but that it isn’t a definite date. She added that it would be almost impossible to find a new location for a boat during the summer months.
“They are helping us out by letting us leave out boats there, but it’s not enough,” Sutherland said. “This was just a horrible experience. But in the end, what can you do. I guess it’s just time to move on.”
