Falconer Dollar General owner files for tax reduction
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The owner of the DG Market store on East Second Street is asking the state Supreme Court to decrease the store's taxable assessment mere months after the store was closed for code violations.
Bruce Stavitsky, the New Jersey attorney representing MDC Mercury 2604 Propco 4 C/O Dollar General #12399, filed the motion in state Supreme Court on July 16. The store, located at 460 W. Main St., Falconer, is assessed for $1,250,000. The owner is asking the court to decrease the tax assessment on the building to less than half of its current assessment to $512,000.
"The assessment is unequal in that it has been made at a higher proportionate valuation than the assessments of other real property on the sale assessment rolls of the town of Ellicott made by the same officers for the tax year 2026-27," Stavitsky wrote. "The assessment is excessive because it is greater than the fair market value of the subject property."
The violation, and closure, was issued by Paul Capitano, Falconer code enforcement officer, who said a complaint was received nearly two weeks prior to the closure from a concerned resident who said the store has a host of problems with the roof, leading to multiple leaks forming throughout the building. Capitano visited the store and saw the leaks himself, noting the leaks extended throughout the entirety of the store. Capitano stated that this could indicate large levels of mold throughout the building, as well as having noted the risk of the falling ceiling tiles throughout the store. The water is also leaking onto all of the coolers in the store, both in the middle and rear, according to Capitano. These conditions not only present a hazard to those that shop at the store, but also to those that must stay in the building for a shift.
Upon reviewing the history of the location, Capitano realized that the issues weren't recent with violation letters can be found going as far back as 2020. Because of the long history of violations, and the severity of the problem in March, Capitano found it to be in the best interest of public safety to force the location to make the repairs before being allowed to serve anybody else.
The store reopened in June after repairs were made.