By Dana Williams
“I am absolutely delighted that the town board has approved the rezoning, which brings us one step closer to ridding the community of this menace,” Town Supervisor Kate Murray said. “I believe that this hearing closes an unpleasant chapter and opens a prosperous one in the history of West Hempstead.”
More than 100 West Hempstead residents packed Hempstead Town Hall to show their support for replacing the controversial Courtesy with the apartments. Real estate firm Trammell Crow Residential will construct the complex, which will feature a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom rental apartments, two levels of underground parking and a host of amenities. At the hearing, the town board voted to rezone the Courtesy property to a residential classification.
“It was satisfying to finally hear that the Courtesy is being sold and redeveloped,” said resident Tony Brita. “... Hopefully, the new development will bring about much-needed growth to West Hempstead, and act as a catalyst to the revitalization of Hempstead Avenue.”
For more than two years, at various meetings at Town Hall, residents have lobbied in support of the Trammell Crow project, which residents have called an example of “smart growth.” The developer has been in contract to purchase the Courtesy from its owner, Bruce Zwelsky, since March 2006. Trammell Crow originally proposed the construction of a 220-unit complex on the Courtesy site. Town officials, however, said the proposal was too dense, and would set a regrettable precedent in the township.
Representatives of Trammell Crow announced last December that they had scaled back their proposal to 176 units, or 65 units per acre. But the town blocked the sale the following month by adopting an Urban Renewal Plan — a design to redevelop 10.5 acres of blighted land on Hempstead Avenue, including the Courtesy property. The URP limited density to 45 units per acre.
Town officials have been widely criticized by community members for delaying the sale of the property and the closure of the hotel, but officials insisted that the main issue was the density of Trammell Crow’s proposed complex. In July, residents learned that the town was negotiating with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to acquire a .97-acre parcel of land next to the Courtesy and the West Hempstead Long Island Rail Road train station so that the Trammell Crow complex could occupy more land and comply with density requirements.
Murray announced at a press conference on Nov. 13 that the LIRR had helped to broker the deal between the town and the developer by agreeing to transfer the parcel to the town.
“This project is a $51 million investment back into the community, which will not only create new jobs, but will also help revitalize the existing local economy by putting 150 new households into the area to patronize local retail shops and restaurants,” said Maria Rigopoulos, vice president of Trammell Crow. “This has been a collaborative effort with the community, the Town of Hempstead and the LIRR.”
For more than a decade, residents have lobbied to have the problematic Courtesy closed. The hotel has been the site of a host of criminal activities, including prostitution, drugs and robbery, and has been home to several registered sex offenders. Fifth precinct police announced in August that officers had responded to 119 calls and made 28 arrests at the hotel since January. In September, police also reported that officers had arrested three men staying at the Courtesy for forcing a 14-year-old girl into prostitution in the hotel. In 2007, there were 77 arrests at the Courtesy.
“As a resident of this fine community, I am hopeful that there are no more delays in this issue of closing the Courtesy Hotel once and for all,” said resident Terri Keating. “West Hempstead is a respectable community that deserves to be able to allow our children the opportunity to grow up in a nice town with all of its wonderful features, without having a place like the Courtesy taking our neighborhood down ... and I cannot wait for the construction of this complex to begin.”
At last week’s hearing, Murray said that along with finalizing plans to demolish the Courtesy, town officials are moving forward with the URP. The town has not announced a developer for the plan. In the meantime, LIRR President Helena Williams said, the LIRR property transfer needs to be presented to the MTA board for approval. The deal will be voted on later this month or in January, officials said.
“Today is a great day for West Hempstead neighbors and everyone who calls Hempstead Town home,” Murray said. “The countdown has begun to the demolition of the Courtesy Hotel and the construction of beautiful homes for West Hempstead’s newest neighbors.”
Comments about this story? DWilliams@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
