An irate Eyal Saad says he’s ordered Brooklyn-based developer Jason Moskowitz, owner of the dilapidated Dragon Inn on Barclay Heights, to come before the village historic preservation board (HRB) for approval to clean up the front of the building, formerly the grand manor home of local industrialist William Sheffield. A wooden addition to the front of the building added when it was the Dragon Inn Chinese restaurant collapsed from the weight of last week’s snowfall.
“I’ve contacted him and told him to come before the HTB this month,” Saad said, “and if he doesn’t I will begin to issue failure to appear notices that will require him to come before a village court judge and explain why he hasn’t.”
The judge will then have the ability to fine Moskowitz for failing to come before the committee.
Saad said that he has told Moskowitz time and again that he must do something with the building and get approvals from the HRB to clean it up.
The historic Sheffield mansion, at one time called Clovelea, was turned into a Chinese restaurant in the 1980s and gutted by a fire in 1993. Since that time it has sat vacant and decaying.
Moskowitz purchased the building after the restaurant owner defaulted on a loan he obtained to buy the building. At that time, Moskowitz said he wanted to build a boutique hotel and include Clovelea as part of the building.
A man who had been living in the building’s basement was found dead last year, and at that time Saad ordered Moskowitz to seal up the building to keep vagrants, and kids out.
This month the HRB meets on March 22 at the village hall.
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