In an often contentious hearing Thursday (8/31) at Hempstead Town Hall, a lawyer for the padlocked Capri Motel challenged plans to keep the business closed as a ‘public nuisance,’ arguing it is actually a well-run business that employs more than two dozen people.
In the first of two planned meetings, Jeffrey Schreiber argued that Capri’s owners had made every attempt to comply with regulations, only to see it closed earlier this year after an off-cycle inspection in May found the rooms lacked carbon-monoxide detectors. Despite the fact that there are no gas lines on premises, Schreiber said the devices were added, but did not prevent the closure.
“This property has been operating as a motel continiously for over 60 years,” including 40 under his client, Schreiber said, noting that Capri employs 27 local workers. “During that time it has complied with all zoning regulations, obtained all permits, passed all inspections. There have never been any issues and it is clean and maintained and orderly.”
But Nassau County Police Inspector James Crawford, commanding officer of the 5th Precinct which incluces the property, painted a different picture.
He cited a litany of arrests at the property for alleged prostitution and drug offenses, telling the Town Board “the evidence is aqequate should the Board wish to make that finding that the premises constitutes a public nuisance. It would then be up to the board to determine what the appropriate remedy is.”
Schreiber called for Town Supervisor Donald Clavin and another official, Council member Thomas Muscarella recuse themselves from the proceedings because of prior public statements calling for the motel’s closing. “They can’t sit in judgment of something that they have already prejudged,” said the lawyer.
Clavin countered that his comments were only reflecting public sentiment. “We don’t feel that we made that representation.”
The motel has been dormant since Aug 7, when Buildings Department officials padlocked each of its doors, posting signs that the business is a “public nuisance.”
The next hearing is set for Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Hempstead Town Hall.
The West Hempstead Community Support Association (WHCSA) is calling for residents to sign a petition in favor of permanently shuttering Capri. As of Monday (8/28) the petition had 626 signatures, with a goal of 1,000.
“The executives of the board board unanimously agreed to go to the meeting [because] this Capri Motel has been a problem in the community for many years,” said Maureen Greenberg, president of the WHCSA. “It’s not good for people trying to raise a family. There is a school two blocks away.”
The motel management could not be reached for comment as the phone number appears to be inactive.
According to Long Island Press, Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin said “The Capri Motor Inn has been a breeding ground for criminal activity, putting the safety of residents and neighboring business owners at risk. I am proud to join with my colleagues on the Town Board, Nassau County Legislators Bill Gaylor and John Giuffre, and local community leaders to push for the permanent closure of this facility to ensure the safety and quality of life of the West Hempstead community.”
Citing county fire officials, Newsday reported that “four appearance tickets were issued for “failure to maintain the fire alarm system as required, failure to comply with previous violation orders to repair/maintain [the] fire alarm system and several electrical violations.”
The owner of the property, L&S Realty Co., LLC, who reportedly has the option to petition for reopening once the violations are addressed, did not return calls to Newsday.
Another area business, Courtesy Motel, was shut down by authorities in 2011 and the land on which it sat, owned by the Metroplitan Transportation Authority, was later transfered to a developer for construction of apartments. It is now the site of the West 130 community on Hempstead Avenue near the West Hempstead LIRR terminal.
