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Houlihan's Pub Collects Dust, Spurs Sonic Debate [Empty in Smithtown]

Locals say drive-in restaurant should eye this vacant eyesore before pursuing plans to bulldoze grassy area.

As rising dissent began to take over the , a repeating question has emerged: Why isn't the vacant Houlihan's the target and not the last patch of grass on the built-out stretch of Route 25?

Right now, Houlihan's sits on the corner closest to the Middle Country Road and Moriches Road intersection in Lake Grove, directly across from the Smith Haven Mall Entrance. The location is in the DSW Plaza at Lake Grove shopping center with other thriving businesses, such as Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Lens Crafters and DSW. Houlihan's is woefully empty and surrounded by parking.

The desire for Smithtown-area locals to see the glut of vacant properties filled and restored before empty lots are plowed down is big in the area, also clear from the hundreds of comments we've seen on Patch tied to our reporting. And the Town of Smithtown has publicly said it hopes to draft plans that would help speed along the process of turning local blight into businesses full of life. But should laws be harsher?

Do you think developers must be made to target vacant properties before being allowed to plow undeveloped plots?

Let us know in the comments.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Billie B May 20, 2013 at 10:17 am
Tomorrow is the vote..vote NO NOW or our taxes are going to continue to sky rocket. Unless we doRead More something this town will continue to spiral down. More taxes aren't going to help. We need to cut expenses and get ourselves on a fiscally responsible plan.
swataz May 20, 2013 at 09:42 am
Isn't that above the cap? Funny, when another news source mentioned 5 districts that are breakingRead More the cap they didn't mention Smithtown. Dn't worry, the district will bully and scare the parents into voting yes by threatening programs instead of doing what they need to do which is reduce administrative costs.
Ron W May 19, 2013 at 02:26 pm
We can all make a statement one way or another when we vote. However, that statement should be madeRead More on a state level not the local level. Boards of Ed are powerless to do any real cost cutting. The state needs to take this on. We need real reform in Albany to reduce the ever increasing pensions and life long benefits that educators enjoy. Combine this with letting Albany decide salary increases for all educators and we can guaranty tax reductions over the next few years. Its that simple, Boards cannot do these. Lets get Albany to move on these NOW!