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Saladino: Jericho “Homeless Hotel” to Instead Become NY Tech Student Dorm


By Maureen Daly

The brand-new Hampton Inn hotel in Jericho - that almost became a crime-infested homeless shelter – will now be opened instead as a student dormitory for the New York Institute of Technology (“NY Tech”), thanks to decisive intervention by the Town of Oyster Bay. And the Jericho, Brookville and Muttontown communities are relieved.

During the 2020 Covid pandemic, former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran (D-Baldwin) reached a backroom multi-million dollar deal with a Westchester-based homeless shelter conglomerate to purchase and convert the brand-new Hampton Inn in Jericho into a homeless shelter. And to override the local zoning rules of the Town of Oyster Bay to do it.

Local residents were outraged at the threat of hundreds of homeless drug addicts suddenly wandering the streets of Jericho, Brookville and Muttontown.

But Oyster Bay immediately sued and got an injunction. Then Curran lost her election that fall to Bruce Blakeman (R-Long Beach). The Town and County now worked together to stop the threat of a homeless shelter – and found instead that nearby NY Tech needed ready dorm space.

Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino (R-Massapequa) - who lead the effort to stop the homeless shelter - brought the parties together, and NY Tech agreed to long-term lease the hotel, and to convert it into a student dormitory for professional graduate students.

“We welcome this $15 million private investment in the Jericho community and look forward to the transformation of this building into a state-of-the-art dormitory for New York Institute of Technology students pursuing professional degrees in architecture, engineering, and many other disciplines,” stated TOB Supervisor Joe Saladino (R-Oyster Bay). “Residents can finally take comfort in knowing that this property will be put to good use and no longer sit vacant.”

The hotel "is set to become an integral part of the vibrant educational landscape on Long Island,” added New York Tech President Dr. Hank Foley.


"We are thrilled to have successfully closed on the acquisition of 120 Jericho Turnpike," noted Michael Puntillo, the Managing Partner of PX4 Development, which now owns the property. “This long-term lease to New York Tech, represents a significant opportunity to support their mission of fostering academic excellence and creating a vibrant campus community. We are excited to collaborate with the university to provide state-of-the-art student housing and contribute to the growth and development of the local area."

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