Mayor Jack M. Martins announced that the apartment complex located at 101 Jackson Avenue has been sold to new owners after nearly three years of intense pressure on the previous owners to clean up the complex.

Citing numerous building code violations, overcrowding, poor maintenance, and public health concerns, Mayor Martins stated that the efforts made by the village on behalf of the residents of Mineola have finally paid off.

"Three years ago we began holding the former owners accountable for the deplorable conditions at 101 Jackson. For three years they have been cited for code violations, summonsed, and fined. Now, after 30 years of increasing neglect, the former owners have decided to sell this property and move on," Mayor Martins said.

The new property owners have pledged to clean up and rehabilitate the apartments, and are planning to convert many of them into luxury one and two bedroom apartments. They have also committed themselves to improving the building's common areas and grounds.

Mayor Martins added that the new owners have successfully renovated and managed rental and cooperative apartment buildings in other communities and have proven themselves to be responsible landlords who are responsive to their respective communities.

"The new owners are a family-owned business who live locally and are committed to being good neighbors in Mineola. I believe their commitment to the residents of Mineola will go a long way toward correcting the problems that have manifested themselves in that complex," Mayor Martins stated. He added, "It has taken us three years of constant pressure, but Mineola residents will soon begin to see noticeable improvements in that part of our village."

The mayor also noted that this type of improvement enables our young adult residents to stay in Mineola and encourages new young professionals to move into our village. "Bringing a new group of tenants into that complex will have positive repercussions that will be felt throughout our entire village," said Mayor Martins. Mayor Martins also cited a recent Newsday feature article that named Mineola as one of the top four communities on Long Island for young professionals, primarily because of our ability to meet that group's housing needs, our central location, and our accessibility to New York City and other employment centers.