"Raising Homes" Discussion Panel Draws Hundreds

A packed house at the American Legion Post 94 hushed as Babylon Helps head Scott Flaugher approached the microphone to open the discussion panel, recalling a story about how an employee of his had had a traumatic experience, leading him to change his outlook on life.

"'It's time to rewrite my story,' he told me," Flaugher said to the audience. "It's time for us to do that, too... we'll handle this ourselves."

Some of the nearly 200 people at the earlier meeting of the Babylon Helps Discussion Panel: "Should You Raise Your House?" nodded in agreement, as Flaugher welcomed and introduced the four-person panel.

"In the dark of the village hall, it was still the mayor, the trustees, the sanitation department working during this storm," Steve Feldman, Babylon Village Building Inspector, told the crowd. "On Day Two, we got together and figured out what we needed to do to help everybody."

Flaugher noted Mayor Ralph Scordino was in attendance, and the crowd turned and gave him a round of applause for his work during the hurricane and recovery efforts since.

Feldman told homeowners in attendance, many of which sustained major damage during Hurricane Sandy in October, the village immediately changed its height codes that day to help in the eventual repairs following the clean-up.

"In the flood zones, the maximum height is now 30 feet from the FEMA freeboard," or the lowest floor and two feet under, he said. "You will not be in variance of the village code."

He also asked residents to come to village hall and get permits for their building.

"You have no excuses – the permits are free for the first six months," Feldman said. He noted the village was trying to protect residents from potential scams and unregistered contractors.

"If they are not registered and have false documents, it's a felony," he said. "I will issue summons to these guys."

Sharon McGovern, a representative from the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI), also warned Babylonians against the potential for scammers.

"Do not use out-of-state workers, use the guy from down the street, from your town," McGovern said. "Be wary of those special deals and promises they make – or those that want you to make a huge early deposit. Those should never be trusted." Many in the crowd knowingly nodded their heads in agreement.

"Make sure they meet with you during the day and see all the damage in the daylight before you do anything," she said. "Most importantly, make sure everything is specific on the contract, in writing. You need to have legal recourse."

Guy Davis, owner of Davis Building Movers, told concerned residents almost any home could be lifted without issue.

"You can go ahead and put in new insulation, new walls, etc. – we can still lift the home without issue afterwards," Davis noted. "Everyone has a different scenario, but we can do it – this is what we do."

He also told the residents pricing can change from home to home, but a basic home such as a ranch or cape would start at about $20,000 for the process of lifting the home.

He noted: "Other additions will cost more, simply for the fact it is tougher with things like attached garages or chimneys."

The last panelist, Adams Century 21 real estate agent Mary Adams, told residents to be patient with the real estate market in the meanwhile.

"It will recover, it always does," she said. "So far, we've seen offers on homes about 8 or 9 percent lower than the asking price in these flood zones. That's not bad!"

Adams told the crowd the market would rebound eventually, but to repair their houses correctly to help in the future sale.

"Remember, these photos of the damage are not going anywhere," she said. "And the best way is always to do it the right way."

The meeting was the second in a series Babylon Helps hopes to continue. Last month, the relief and recovery group co-hosted a meeting on Mold Remediation at Babylon Junior Senior High School.