In 2003, Antonino and Sarina Cappello, owners of Cappello's Auto Repair purchased the property at 205 South Highland Avenue in Ossining, NY. At the time Cappello's Auto resided at 231 South Highland Avenue. Fiore Beverage was located at 205 South Highland right next to the business. Our plans were to move right next door. Simple move so we thought. Right from the beginning we received backlash from our landlord and owner of 231 Highland Avenue and also from the planning board of Briarcliff Manor - they did not want an auto repair shop to go into that location. The landlord viciously attacked us and evicted us because of his hate for us because we bought the property next door. So, we moved to 184 South Highland Avenue. Since then, we have had possible tenants submit projects to Briarcliff Manor, which every single one of them were stonewalled by Briarcliff. So here we are now. 8 years into our plan to build a new shop for our business and we are being stonewalled again by Village of Briarcliff and New York State DOT. We have served the Ossining and Briarcliff area for over 45 Years. This is not a way to treat a local family business. It seems that corporations can come right in and build whatever they want with no pushback from Village govt. It's so unfair what we are going through but yet the village still collects out hefty tax bill. Paying tax on a piece of property that we can't use. Oh, I forgot to add the part where we threatened by village, they were going to condemn the property if we didn't knock the building down. Yes, there was a building there when we bought the property. Now all we have is a vacant lot. Car wash was allowed to renovate, Advanced Auto was allowed to renovate. Two common reasons. Big money from both properties. So here we are at a standstill with DOT and Briarcliff. Only favor I can ask from the public is please sign the petition that I will create in the support for Cappello's Auto Repair.
It will be 20 years that we have owned this property and haven't been able to profit from it.
It's sad that our mother Sarina passed away before she could see our mom and dad dream of owning their own property that they can leave for their kids and grandchildren.
HELP US!!!!!