By Marley Seaman
Earlier this year, the century-old academy, home to 22 horses, was sold to a development group called Lakeview Ranch Estates. The developers planned to demolish the facility and its stables and build 18 two-bedrooms townhouses on the one-acre property. But earlier this month, the new owners granted the riding academy a reprieve. For now, horses will continue to be a common site on Eagle Avenue.
³Originally, we bought the property to build condos,² said co-owner Ben Haghani. ³That ship has sailed.²
An ³under new ownership² sign has hung outside the stables for the last few weeks, although the developers bought the property in January. Haghani and his business partner, Alex Jacobson, decided last month that they would keep the academy going.
The changes to the facility are already visible. The deck has been redone, and the club room, which hosts children¹s parties, has been renovated. New instructors will be hired, and Haghani said that a new ³three-pronged² safety system is now in place at the academy.
³Every single time someone gets on a horse, that horse is inspected by three different people,² he said. The three aides are charged with making sure the horse is ready to ride, and that all riding equipment is secure.
Attorney William Cohn, who represents Lakeview Ranch Estates, presented the condominium proposal at the American Legion Hall March 30. Opponents said that the plan was wrong for Lakeview, and that 18 condos would crowd the property, removing green space and creating access problems for emergency vehicles.
Haghani called the change of plan ³a business decision,² and although he is committed to making it work, he says that the riding academy will remain open only as long as it remains profitable. He also acknowledged that the community¹s opposition to the condo plan played a role in changing his and Jacobson¹s minds.
³To take something like that away from the community ‹ we didn¹t feel right,² Haghani said. ³[There is] such a huge demand for a ranch like this on the South Shore of Long Island.²
Lakeside employees say that the academy is the only public riding facility in the area. It is home to horses owned by individuals, and to others that anyone can ride.
The riding academy offers lessons for riders of various ages and skill levels, and has access to the trails at Hempstead State Park. It also hosts children¹s birthday parties.
Comments about this story? MSeaman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
