As Man Claims Town Of Islip Destroyed His Vintage Cars, Neighbors Say Home Is Overdue To Be Razed

ISLIP TERRACE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- While a man is suing the Town of Islip, alleging it illegally entered his garage and destroyed his three classic cars, neighbors on Andrew Avenue see things differently.

The Schnittgers' 1923 home was passed on to them with the death of a parent, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported. They didn't live there, and two years ago it was torched in an arson that police say was committed by youths. When the Schnittgers did nothing to raze the eyesore, the Town Board voted to demolish the building and remove the debris.

"I admit it should have been taken down sooner, but even if the town intervened to take it down, the garage was never part of it," Arthur Schnittger said. "I would never have left vehicles in there if I thought the garage was going to come down."

The detached garage was not burned in the fire. It was there that Schnittger tinkered with his antique cars to get them road worthy. He had a 1936 Chevy, a 1938 Chevy and a 1940 Chevy Coupe.

"I've had them for 40 years," Schnittger said. "I have two grandsons coming of age, and it was going to be kind of for them to have part of me, but that's gone."

Neighbors want the entire property cleared.

"It brings down the value of our homes, and we try to keep them up," said Islip Terrace homeowner Mary Kaufman. "This is just terrible. And we've been promised time and again that it will be removed."

"It hurts the community, hurts the area, but eventually somebody is going to physically get hurt," said neighbor Bret Ferland.

Schnittger promises to tear down the house and rebuild but keep the garage. His lawsuit seeks $125,000 for the loss of the three cars. A judge has granted a temporary restraining order.

"We're talking to the town," said Peter Famighetti, the Schnittgers' lawyer. "They haven't really gotten back to us. They're moving to dismiss our complaint. They still haven't told us where the property is or what happened to it."

"My plea is get me my vehicles back or compensate me for them," Schnittger said.

Due to the litigation, the town would not tell CBS2 where the cars are. In Islip, property rights are terminated if homeowners violate town code.