The site of the former Long Beach Motor Inn — the once dilapidated, crime-ridden motel at 3915 Austin Blvd. in Island Park — will be transformed into a major housing initiative for veterans after Nassau County turned over ownership of the property to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation on Nov. 3.
The foundation, a national nonprofit created after the Sept. 11 attacks, provides mortgage-free homes to the families of fallen first responders, Gold Star families and catastrophically injured service members, while also working to eradicate the homelessness of veterans.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed the deed transferring ownership of the property during a public ceremony, signaling the start of a redevelopment that county officials stressed would both enhance public safety and offer life-changing support for veterans.
The inn, which had been in business for over 30 years, has been closed since Superstorm Sandy ravaged the region in 2012. The property has been in disrepair for over a decade, and gained a reputation for being a hot spot for illicit activity.
The move caps a long legal battle to close the troubled motel, which area residents and law enforcement officials had de-scribed as a persistent danger to the community.
“We tried many times to close the hotel, and after several court cases, we were finally able to do it,” Blakeman said. “There was a lot that we could have done with it, but we decided that we wanted to make an investment with our veterans.”
The former motel will be replaced by at least 50 units of permanent supportive housing for veterans. The project is backed by a $20 million investment by Tunnel to Towers, which has built more than 100 veteran villages across the country and runs over 20 major housing initiatives nationwide. Since launching its homeless veterans program, the organization has helped more than 17,500 veterans secure housing.
Gavin Naples, senior vice president of Tunnel to Towers, said the redevelopment would provide far more than shelter for veterans.
“We’re building back a beautiful, long-term supportive housing complex for men and women veterans with 24/7 supportive services,” Naples said. “That includes peer support, case management, entitlements assistance, employment assistance, financial literacy, budget management, legal advocacy and a litany of other services aimed at addressing root causes that veterans are struggling with. This is about providing a platform of rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community.”
Naples noted that housing challenges extend beyond the veteran population.
“Affordable housing is not just an issue that’s facing veterans, but an issue that’s facing America,” Naples said.
Tunnel to Towers has stated that its broader mission has remained consistent since its founding — supporting families, honoring military members and ensuring that those who sacrificed for the country have access to stable, dignified housing.
“We’re always going to take care of all our first responders,” Naples said.
Local officials emphasized that the project would receive full municipal support to swiftly move forward. Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti announced that the town would expedite all necessary building permits — and waive all fees — to ensure that construction begins without delay.
Residents and community leaders have long hoped the derelict motel site would be transformed. What once was a chronic problem for Island Park will now become a hub of support, stability and opportunity for veterans in need.
