Publisher's Note: Oddly, the Town references the commencement of a court action under the so-called Nuisance Law. Interestingly, no court action is required in order to invoke the padlock provision of said law. The Town's most recent missive does not so much as mention the word "padlock."
READ Four Easy Steps To Close The Courtesy
Are we missing something here, or are they?
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KATE MURRAY
Supervisor
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISORTOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
ONE WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. 11550-4923
(516) 489-5000
April 4, 2007
Dear Resident,
Thank you for contacting the town with regard to the Courtesy Hotel. We share your frustration over the fact that the hotel is still standing, and we will not rest until this blight on West Hempstead is shut down forever. We have taken several steps to shutter the facility and redevelop it along with several other properties surrounding the site.
Many residents have called upon the town to commence a “nuisance action” against the hotel’s owners based on the illegal and dangerous activities that have occurred on the premises. In fact, we have utilized our public nuisance law to close down the hotel once and for all! In 2004, we sought a restraining order and an injunction against the hotel owners. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court ruled against us.
More recently, we have called upon the town attorney to explore commencing a new public nuisance action, based on new facts, to shutter the Courtesy. Simultaneously, we have demanded that Nassau County cease placing social service clients at the hotel.
Increased police surveillance has been requested and we have sought required county cooperation to place a police booth at the location.
We know you will be interested in an update on the town’s other efforts related to edevelopment of several parcels of property surrounding Hempstead Avenue and Westminster Road/Woodfield Road.
Several months ago, the Hempstead Town Board adopted a blight study determining that the Courtesy Hotel and the area surrounding the aforementioned intersection was blighted. This area includes a delicatessen, a gasoline station, municipal parking fields, vacant structures, a Long Island Rail Road station as well as the hotel. This study established the foundation for an Urban Renewal Plan, which is being developed by the town’s Department of Planning and Economic Development. The Plan will set forth a blueprint to redevelop and revitalize the entire area. Upon adoption by the town board, we will direct that the properties be acquired through condemnation for redevelopment by the private sector.
In anticipation of the proposed Urban Renewal Plan, we have overseen an effort by the Department of Planning and Economic Development to gauge interest by the private sector to redevelop the subject area. In fact, nine developers responded to town solicitations in this regard. Furthermore, four of the aforementioned developers have been notified that they have been selected to produce competing proposals to redevelop the blighted zone.
One of the selected developers, the Tramwell Crow Company, has entered into a contract to purchase the Courtesy Hotel. You should be aware that the Planning Department’s Urban Renewal Project will not interfere with or inhibit the ability of Tramwell Crow to seek zoning changes for its proposed development.
Our goals concerning the Courtesy Hotel are simple and straightforward…let’s shut the doors to this eyesore forever! Further, let’s redevelop the hotel and the surrounding area for the benefit of West Hempstead neighbors.
We hope that this update is helpful and provides insight regarding our efforts to make West Hempstead an even greater place in which to live.
Sincerely,
KATE MURRAY
Supervisor
EDWARD AMBROSINO
Councilman
Councilman
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Nice letter.
Unfortunately, it adds absolutely nothing new to the mix, and begs the question (or avoids it, entirely) as to why the Courtesy has not been closed utilizing the padlock provision of the Town's Nuisance Law.
That's the question that West Hempstead residents should be asking of Town of Hempstead officials?
E-mail Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Town Councilman Ed Ambrosino and tell them you want the Courtesy padlocked NOW!
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