N. Hempstead mulls if it should seize site

Crowds filled North Hempstead Town Hall Tuesday night for a public hearing on whether the town should seize the Roslyn Country Club through eminent domain.

"What we want to do is build a Class A park, much like what we've done at Harbor Links," town Councilman Thomas Dwyer said before the hearing.

A decision on whether to pursue the eminent domain seizure was not expected to be made at Tuesday night's meeting.

North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman said the town would seek to provide a heated swimming pool and improved tennis courts, and was "talking about acquiring" the catering facility.

Membership would be open to town residents and the annual fees to join would be $1,000 to $2,000, he said. As long as members are willing to pay the fees to keep the park self-sustaining, the town would consider the acquisition, he said.

Civic leader Todd Zarin urged the town to acquire the property, saying residents haven't been able to use the area for several years and complaining that owner Manouchehr "Manny" Malekan of Mineola has allowed it to fall into disrepair. "Please move this effort forward," Zarin said, to applause from the audience.

The 10-acre property, which features a mansion converted into an exclusive clubhouse, has been the subject of numerous lawsuits and failed attempts by the town and residents to declare it historic.

Levitt & Sons Inc. built the Roslyn Country Club development of 668 houses in 1949.

In 2002, Malekan, a real estate manager, bought the clubhouse from a real estate investment trust that had acquired it in a bankruptcy proceeding. Since then, he and residents have battled over usage fees.

Malekan has told Newsday he considered the eminent domain procedure election-year politicking. The club's on-site pool and tennis courts have been closed for five years. The mansion is home to a catering and event business with a long-term lease, he said.

The catering component and membership fees help cover the costs of maintaining the pool, tennis courts and grounds. To the relief of clients with weddings and other events booked at the Royalton Mansion at Roslyn Heights, the Royalton has continued to operate through the disputes.

The town wants catering to continue while it restores the recreational facilities, officials said.