By JOSEPH KELLARD
The order comes after the town board condemned the motel's property, on Long Beach Road at Harrison Avenue, in May 2004, using eminent domain law, in order to convert the property to a public parking lot. Since then, while the town was obtaining the financing and environmental reports needed in the case, Bhatt's attorneys appealed. McCabe signed a vesting order that permits the town to continue the needed steps for condemnation and redevelopment.
"The vesting order actually places the title in the Town of Hempstead's hands, and is being filed as we speak," Murray explained at a press conference held on the motel property before news cameras and neighbors on June 1. "Once that order is filed, [Bhatt and Joshi] are no longer the owners, the town of Hempstead is, and we can actually require them to vacate the premises literally within hours."
But while Murray and Santino were poised to take action and have the premises vacated immediately, before this can occur, further steps must be taken pertaining to the filing of the judge's order, including ensuring that the motel owners obtain a copy of it.
Santino said he looked forward to the day, probably in early August, "when this motel will become a pile of rubble ... and something will replace it that adds to Oceanside, not detracts from it."
Although there will be no obstacle to demolishing the motel and building a municipal parking lot, the town's purchase of the property is pending a judge's ruling on a "fair and marketable" price for the property. The town's appraisal of the property is $1.5 million, and its estimated cost of the demolition and parking lot construction is $300,000 to $400,000. The town bonded up to $3.5 million for the project, and the board authorized it last June. Murray claimed the purchase price would be "negotiated shortly."
Despite repeated calls and visits to the motel, neither Bhatt nor his lawyer, Kevin O'Brien, commented on the case. Another of Bhatt's lawyers, Arvind Lall, said, "I don't want to comment on that [zoning] issue." Last August, O'Brien said that an Oceanside real estate agent suggested an asking price of $3.2 million.
The town had pursued a second case against the motel under its public nuisance law, which would allow it to close the business based on the number of drug-related arrests there within a year. The decision in the condemnation case, however, renders that case moot.
"The next time we invite friends and neighbors to this location, we hope to have a wrecking ball and a demolition crew ready for action," Murray said to the cheers of about 20 Oceansiders.
Julia Nasso, who lives directly behind the motel in a home she built there in 1952, called last Wednesday, when Murray and Santino made their announcement, "one of the best days of my life."
Nasso, who had tried to prevent the motel from being built over 40 years ago, said that since the 1970s she has had continuous troubles with both its owners and patrons. In addition to loud noises, the troubles ranged from having garbage - soiled diapers, used condoms, empty liquor bottles and syringes - dumped on her property to having her home burglarized by patrons, she claimed.
Asked why she believes the closing of the motel took until 2005, Nasso said, "Well, I think because the neighbors have become more aware of what's going on here. It's just unbelievable."
Donna Taylor, a 20-year resident of Harrison Avenue, the street adjacent to the motel, is most concerned about sex offenders who have taken up residence at the motel in recent years - so much so that she won't allow her 11-year-old son to ride his bike anywhere near its property. She also spoke about the drug users that rent rooms, and a body found there in the 1980s.
"This is such a wonderful day," Taylor said. "We have to thank Councilman Santino for standing by us all the way. We've had nothing but heartache with this motel."
Santino noted how the motel stands at the gateway to Oceanside, and is among the first sites motorists encounter when traveling south on Long Beach Road. "It has become, unfortunately, the wrong message that is being sent to people coming to Oceanside about what this beautiful and wonderful community is all about," Santino said. "Bringing this motel down ... putting it out of business once and for all is really a bright new day in the future of Oceanside."
"I never thought this day was going to come," said Lisa Vitale, a mother and a 44-year resident of Oceanside. "But it's wonderful that this day is here, and it's about time."
Meanwhile, Harvey Levinson, chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors, estimates the cost of the motel at $3.5 million. Levinson said the condemnation of the motel wasn't the way to go, adding that the town should have pursued other avenues, such as the federal forfeiture law or padlocking the building. "The town wouldn't have to pay a penny," he said. "Instead, what the town has done in Oceanside is they are spending $3.5 million in taxpayers' money not to put up a park, but to put up a parking lot."
Murray said that condemnation was the right choice for the Oceanside Motel, simply because of the size of the neighborhood. "We figure [the cost in taxes] will be between $10 and $12 a house per year for 10 years."
Comments about this story? DMiller@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
