Politics & Government

Updated: Swezey's is History

Removal of the final section of Swezey's is ongoing, estimated to be completed by end of the day, official says.

The demolition of the final section of the vacant Swezey's Department store in Patchogue Village took place Tuesday morning at the Four Corners intersection of North Ocean Avenue and Main Street.

Around 30 residents came to the 6:30 a.m. demolition, during which the physical Swezey building was reduced to rubble just before 9 a.m.

Robert Coughlan, Principal of Tritec Real Estate Company, told Patch at the site that it is estimated to be completed by the end of day.

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"The idea is to take the first top two floors down and then they can safely work on the first floor without debris coming down onto the street," Coughlan said.

Coughlan said that the building was cleared out, abated for asbestos and was the final piece of the demolition for the New Village.

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Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri said that the demolition was bittersweet as the Swezey's building was iconic to Patchogue Village.

"We remember Christmases, we remember birthdays, we remember the Communion suit, we remember all of those things that made Patchogue, that made your life more special than it is," Pontieri said. "The Knapp/Swezey family, they gave back to this community by having this store here, but it's time to move on."

Pontieri said that Tritec is about two weeks to clear the rubble and make it site-ready, and that once it is site-ready they will pour cement for the foundations and the underground garage.

Coughlan had no comment when asked about why the demolition could not be moved off of the Sept. 11 date that .

Pontieri said that he did have a struggle with having the demolition on Sept. 11, which he previously said that Tritec had to work with on the .

"This building and this space wasn't married to that in any way, shape or form, but on the other side of it is there is a sense that our country has allowed progress to go forward, and this isn't the only construction project in this country, probably isn't the only building that's going to come down, and there was a schedule to be kept," Pontieri said.

Several during the demolition. Pontieri said that there may be future sporadic road closures in the area as construction continues.

The of the vacant Swezey's department store is for Tritec's  that is set to bring 291 apartments, 46,000 square feet of retail space and 18,000 square feet of office space at the Four Corners intersection.

Updated 12:35 p.m. with more information. More photos and video from the demolition to come.


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