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Nassau County gifted a sleazy abandoned motel overrun by drugs and prostitution to a nonprofit that will spend $20 million to convert the site into housing for struggling veterans, officials said Monday.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) signed over the deed to the former Long Beach Motor Inn property in Island Park to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in a deal that will build 58 affordable units for “transitional” homeless veterans who meet income requirements.
The county fought to close the property and took it over in 2014.
“The county will deed over to Tunnels to Towers — a hotel that was dilapidated, drug infested, a place of prostitution, an eye sore in the community, and a danger to the community — so they could build [58] units for our veterans so they could have a home,” Blakeman told reporters moments before signing over the property at a news conference at the county legislative building.
“It’s the least we could do to make sure that our veterans have shelter, that they have a place to go and live a beautiful life in a brand new apartment in a great community,” he added.
The old property will be razed with the new facility set to be completed in 2026. It will offer veterans trying to get back on their feet far more than just a place to live, according to Gavin Naples, the senior VP for Tunnels to Towers.
The new housing facility will include on-site support services for veteran residents such as transportation, job training, health and financial counseling, and addiction treatment — creating a comprehensive, wraparound support system intended to help veterans rebuild their lives, officials said.
“Our ultimate objective is to provide a platform of supportive service and help veterans reintegrate back into the community, reconnect with families, go on entrepreneurial career paths, and provide long-term housing solutions for veterans that are struggling with affordable housing,” Naples told The Post.
Veterans who apply for the housing when applications become available would have to meet certain criteria, such as having been honorably discharged. They also would need to meet monthly costs of staying there — a number that Naples said hasn’t been decided upon but will be a “great deal” and will not exceed the cost of affordable housing in the area.
He pointed out that this program is more aimed towards those he described as “transitionally” homeless rather than “street” homeless, who he said can be supported through different avenues of the non-profit.
“If anyone is wondering what good government looks like — this is it,” Rep. Anthony D’Esposito said.
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