Lynbrook Capri demolition set for June 15

Luxury apartments to replace much-maligned motel

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With a return to construction in Phase One of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to reopen New York state, the demolition of the Capri Lynbrook Motor Inn to make way for a luxury apartment complex will begin June 15.

“We want to once again express our gratitude to the mayor, village officials and the many neighbors and residents who helped make this exciting redevelopment possible,” said Anthony Bartone, managing partner of Terwilliger & Bartone Properties. “Particularly in these uncertain times, we’re thrilled to be on track with this monumental transformation that will not only create much-needed luxury-apartment-style living without the maintenance of a single-family home, but also support the tax base and promote commerce in Lynbrook for years to come.”

Called the Cornerstone at Yorkshire, the 80-unit, $24 million structure will be built at the site of the Capri, which has been the center of controversy for the neighborhood for many years.

In February, the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency granted Terwilliger & Bartone, which is based in Farmingdale,  a mortgage-recording tax abatement, a sales-tax abatement and a 20-year payment- in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for the four-story building, which will begin at the present tax level of $228,155 per year and gradually increase to $1.1 million by its final year. Village officials approved the project, 4-1, in November.

The Tudor-style apartment complex will be built at 5 Freer St., where the Capri has operated since 1985. Parking will extend to nearby Roxy Place. There will be eight two-bedroom apartments that will rent for about $3,400 per month, 44 one-bedroom units that will cost roughly $2,800 and 28 studios, which will be about $2,300 per month. Eight units will be set aside as workforce housing, which, under Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations, must have reduced rents for households earning up to 80 percent of the median income for the area.

According to Bartone, units will start being leased next summer, and construction will likely be completed by fall 2021. The complex will include a fitness center with an outdoor yoga area, a clubroom with billiards, a courtyard with a fire pit and on-site parking.

With the ongoing pandemic, Bartone said, the construction team will adhere to strict guidelines issued by the state, including implementing mandatory health screening assessment, hygiene stations, face coverings and physical-distancing measures.

“From building construction to the natural cleaning and disinfectant products utilized once the property opens, we continue to prioritize green and healthy building practices at all of our properties to ensure a clean, healthy lifestyle for our residents,” he said.

The motel closed in April after years of arrests for prostitution and drug possession at or near the site, and several drug overdose deaths of guests there.

“Police responses, multiple arrests for criminal conduct, as well as numerous ambulance responses, will always be associated with the Capri,” Mayor Alan Beach said after the IDA approved the PILOT. “Its demolition and reconstruction … will forever replace the Capri motel.”

Village officials sought to replace the Capri for many years, and first sent out a request for proposals in 2016, which Terwilliger & Bartone responded to. Bartone previously sought to build a large apartment complex and parking structure in the village’s downtown, but the project was nixed in February 2019 because of resident backlash. With many residents offering favorable responses to Bartone’s latest project during public meetings at Village Hall last fall, the project is set to move ahead.

Because of the pandemic, a groundbreaking ceremony will be hosted virtually on Facebook, the details for which will be posted  at a later date. To learn more about the project, visit cornerstoneyorkshire.com.