Town to decide on stables’ facelift

If the Town of Hempstead’s Board of Zoning Appeals grants Lakewood Stables in West Hempstead the permits and variances it needs to begin a rehabilitation project, residents will soon see a new state-of-the-art equestrian center built on the property.

At a BZA hearing on Jan. 13, the stables’ owner, Alex Jacobson, presented his application to refurbish the riding academy, which serves hundreds of residents of the South Shore. As part of the project, the stables would undergo a structural and aesthetic facelift with the addition of a new indoor riding arena. The new building would be about 40 feet high and measure nearly 28,000 square feet. The upgraded facility, Jacobson said, would also provide better accommodations for horseback riders. Most notably, the stables would be open for business year-round.

“The new building will be similar to the setup we have now, but it will be a more up-to-date building because our current facility is not in great condition,” Jacobson explained, adding that the center will include a clubhouse, a locker room and office space. “We do not have the option of serving our customers when the weather is not good because our riding area is outside, so this new indoor arena is key to keeping us open during all seasons.”

The indoor arena would also enhance life for the horses that are boarded on the property, officials said, because the project would address problems with dust, noise, lighting, drainage and ventilation. It is expected to cost $1 million, and Jacobson would foot the bill. “The new center is going to be a green building, so we will not have to use lighting during the day, and it’s going to increase air volume, which will help the horses that we board,” he said. “The new arena will also have new footing, and that will eliminate all of our dust problems.”