From The Three Village Times. . .
Civic Leaders Urge Town to Close Courtesy
Town Hopes Urban Renewal Plan Is the Answer
Civic Leaders Urge Town to Close Courtesy
Town Hopes Urban Renewal Plan Is the Answer
The Courtesy Hotel. Photo by Andrew Vardakis
The West Hempstead Civic Association has been urging Town of Hempstead officials to get moving on closing the Courtesy Hotel, which is thought by many to be a blight on the community. But the town says that they are doing what they can to close the hotel.
"The only thing standing between the closure of the Courtesy and the revitalization of the southeast gateway to West Hempstead is the will of the Town Supervisor to get the job done, " said former civic association president and longtime community activist Seth Bykofsky.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray has taken criticism for not being able to close the Courtesy, but, according to a letter recently sent out to residents who expressed concerns over the hotel, the town has tried in the past to close the hotel.
A town spokesperson said the town is exploring all options and the Courtesy Hotel is not being ignored. The recent letter, signed by Murray and Town Councilman Ed Ambrosino, stated "we will not rest until this blight on West Hempstead is shut down forever."
Civic leaders want to close the Courtesy through a public nuisance law enacted by the town in 2000. According to the letter, the town sought to utilize its public nuisance law to close the hotel.
In 2004, the town sought a restraining order and an injunction against the hotel owners. However, the Supreme Court ruled against the town.
Civic leaders then hoped the town would use the power of eminent domain to take ownership of the hotel to close it. However, condemnation proceedings weren't commenced. "In the absence of an urban renewal plan and the absence of the idea of developing the property, the town would have had to have been prepared to pay for the acquisition so they did not go forward with that. Then it was decided let's utilize the urban renewal process," said Charles Theofan, commissioner of the town's Department of Planning and Economic Development.
The town board adopted a blight study for the area around the hotel, which includes a delicatessen, gasoline station, municipal parking fields, vacant structures, a Long Island Rail Road station and the hotel. The town also has asked for developers to submit their qualifications to develop the area. The town board hopes to adopt the urban renewal plan, which will act as the plan for the redevelopment of the area this summer.
"Upon adoption by the town board, we will direct that the properties be acquired through condemnation for redevelopment by the private sector," stated the letter.
Four developers have been notified that they have been selected to produce competing proposals to redevelop the area. Among the selected developers is the Trammell Crow Company, which has entered into contract to purchase the Courtesy Hotel, according to the hotel. The town's urban renewal project will not interfere with the ability of Trammell Crow to seek zoning changes for its proposed development of the hotel, according to the town.
As if pressure from the civic association isn't enough, Assemblyman Tom Alfano has also gotten into the act of pressuring the town to close the Courtesy. Alfano, who was a candidate to become town supervisor when former supervisor Rich Guardino stepped down and was ultimately succeeded by Murray, has put out a flier urging the town to close the hotel. "After six years of discussion, the Courtesy needs to be shut down immediately," stated Alfano in a letter to Murray that was printed on the flier.
Although it's been over six years since the hotel has been in the civic association's radar, civic leaders may have to show more patience while the town's urban renewal plan is followed.
- Joe Rizza
The West Hempstead Civic Association has been urging Town of Hempstead officials to get moving on closing the Courtesy Hotel, which is thought by many to be a blight on the community. But the town says that they are doing what they can to close the hotel.
"The only thing standing between the closure of the Courtesy and the revitalization of the southeast gateway to West Hempstead is the will of the Town Supervisor to get the job done, " said former civic association president and longtime community activist Seth Bykofsky.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray has taken criticism for not being able to close the Courtesy, but, according to a letter recently sent out to residents who expressed concerns over the hotel, the town has tried in the past to close the hotel.
A town spokesperson said the town is exploring all options and the Courtesy Hotel is not being ignored. The recent letter, signed by Murray and Town Councilman Ed Ambrosino, stated "we will not rest until this blight on West Hempstead is shut down forever."
Civic leaders want to close the Courtesy through a public nuisance law enacted by the town in 2000. According to the letter, the town sought to utilize its public nuisance law to close the hotel.
In 2004, the town sought a restraining order and an injunction against the hotel owners. However, the Supreme Court ruled against the town.
Civic leaders then hoped the town would use the power of eminent domain to take ownership of the hotel to close it. However, condemnation proceedings weren't commenced. "In the absence of an urban renewal plan and the absence of the idea of developing the property, the town would have had to have been prepared to pay for the acquisition so they did not go forward with that. Then it was decided let's utilize the urban renewal process," said Charles Theofan, commissioner of the town's Department of Planning and Economic Development.
The town board adopted a blight study for the area around the hotel, which includes a delicatessen, gasoline station, municipal parking fields, vacant structures, a Long Island Rail Road station and the hotel. The town also has asked for developers to submit their qualifications to develop the area. The town board hopes to adopt the urban renewal plan, which will act as the plan for the redevelopment of the area this summer.
"Upon adoption by the town board, we will direct that the properties be acquired through condemnation for redevelopment by the private sector," stated the letter.
Four developers have been notified that they have been selected to produce competing proposals to redevelop the area. Among the selected developers is the Trammell Crow Company, which has entered into contract to purchase the Courtesy Hotel, according to the hotel. The town's urban renewal project will not interfere with the ability of Trammell Crow to seek zoning changes for its proposed development of the hotel, according to the town.
As if pressure from the civic association isn't enough, Assemblyman Tom Alfano has also gotten into the act of pressuring the town to close the Courtesy. Alfano, who was a candidate to become town supervisor when former supervisor Rich Guardino stepped down and was ultimately succeeded by Murray, has put out a flier urging the town to close the hotel. "After six years of discussion, the Courtesy needs to be shut down immediately," stated Alfano in a letter to Murray that was printed on the flier.
Although it's been over six years since the hotel has been in the civic association's radar, civic leaders may have to show more patience while the town's urban renewal plan is followed.
- Joe Rizza
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