Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilman Andrew Monteleone and Town Clerk Richard LaMarca joined with members of the Town Highway crew to commence the demolition of the Budget Inn Motel. The town board said this has been a longstanding eyesore in the Massapequa community.
In 2024, the town reached a legal settlement that secured the permanent closure and subsequent demolition of the Budget Inn Motel. The Town had previously filed a lawsuit to address longstanding concerns about the property, which was deemed structurally unsound and a hub for criminal activity.
Following a lengthy legal process, a settlement was reached to close and demolish all buildings, and a future attempt to halt the demolition was struck down by the courts. Town Highway crews will perform the demolition at the property as the Town continues discussions on its potential future.
“Today our community celebrates a long-awaited victory, following years of complaints, lack of maintenance, code violations and even criminal activity — this property’s days are over,” Saladino said. “We know this didn’t happen overnight, and we thank the community for their patience while we accomplished this mission the right way — legally, responsibly and permanently.”
Saladino said the town stood “ on the side of our residents” and “worked to protect the quality of life of our community,” adding, “We fought this through a rigorous court process to keep the site closed, monitored and secured, and every step of the way, the courts backed us. Today marks the end of a long fight — and a clear victory for this neighborhood.”