Abandoned Staten Island Building Where Teen Fell To His Death Could Be Demolished This Week
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The abandoned Staten Island hospital where a teenager fell seven stories to his death down an elevator shaft last week could be torn down within the next few days.
Marcos Castillo, 16, died Friday while apparently playing with friends inside the former Staten Island Hospital building at 100 Castleton Ave.
Now there is a sudden urgency to secure the site, CBS2's Steve Langford reported.
A demolition permit was issued for the site Tuesday evening, according Department of Buildings records.
"The word I got over the weekend is that demolition will happen this week," Staten Island Borough President James Oddo told Langford.
Meanwhile, Castillo's father, Jorge Rivera, is demanding answers.
"I want the truth," he said.
"Why they wait till something happened to take it (the building) out? They should took it out before."
Oddo said ownership of the building is in legal limbo, stalling redevelopment.
"We pushed to have this eyesore become something that's a positive for the community," he said.
The Buildings Department said the abandoned hospital site is owned by Shore Holdings UK, which lists as its business address a Staten Island law firm. The building has been abandoned for 36 years, officials said.
"I can tell you that there was a building that had a demolition order issued by the city months ago that was still open, and this young man died," Oddo said.
Castillo's father, meanwhile, said he has yet to hear from anyone who was there the day his son died.
"I don't even know who they are," Rivera said.
The tragedy was not reported to police until another parent learned about it at least an hour later.
Castillo's funeral will be held Thursday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. He will be buried at Silver Mount Cemetery.