Budget Inn Motel Demolition Begins, Town Officials Say

MASSAPEQUA, NY. — The town of Oyster Bay is getting rid of an “eyesore” this week, as demolition began on the Budget Inn Motel in Massapequa.

Town officials announced the motel’s demolition Wednesday, in a team effort by Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilman Andrew Monteleone, Town Clerk Richard LaMarca and members of the Town’s Highway crew.

The motel’s future was previously the subject of a lawsuit from the town, which settled in 2024 and paved the way for the demolition of the condemned motel. Subsequent efforts to halt the demolition were struck down in court, leaving the motel to be demolished.

“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,” Supervisor 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. Standing on the side of our residents, we worked to protect the quality of life of our community. 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.”

As for the future of the hotel property, town officials said Wednesday that conversations about that future would continue as demolition went on.