Demolition of Budget Inn Motel site in Massapequa moves a step closer as Oyster Bay Town seeks to buy it

A state Supreme Court justice struck down an attempt to temporarily delay the demolition of the Budget Inn Motel property in Massapequa, a blighted site the Town of Oyster Bay said it is interested in acquiring. 

Justice Conrad Singer, in a court filing last week, found that an attorney for property owners Om Shiv Shai Guru Inc. "failed to demonstrate grounds to grant" a temporary halt on the demolition, which town officials plan to start in about a month. 

Last year, a justice ordered the site to be closed and demolished after Oyster Bay sued the property owners over town code violations. Town officials said the two sides are negotiating the possible sale of the property.

Tejal Shah, who this month began representing the property's ownership group, filed a request to the court on Oct. 17 to delay the demolition of the motel until Nov. 30 and to allow the owners to handle that razing of the building. 

Andrew Preston, an attorney representing the town, opposed that request in court documents. He said the two sides made an agreement to have the demolition process begin by Oct. 1 and the request to delay that effort was "frivolous."

A town offer to buy

Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said the town is considering possible next steps at the plot, on Carman Mill Road between a town highway yard and Field of Dreams Park. Court documents show the town in April made an offer of $1.9 million, with the town handling the process of demolition. It is unclear if the town made a more recent offer. 

“We’re open to many, many ideas, but we can’t start to seriously consider them until we own the property,” Saladino said in a phone interview. “So, Step 1 comes before Steps 2, 3 and 4.”

The town is handling asbestos abatement at the property, which was found to have numerous health and safety issues in an inspection last year. After the abatement is completed, which should take around a month, the town said it plans to demolish the structure.

“It’s been the site of numerous problems,” Saladino said. “The site’s been unkept and we have a school right across the street, so this is the perfect location to acquire the property and have a better community-related use for it.”

Dhaval Patel, who is listed as the CEO of property owner Om Shiv Sai Guru Inc., did not respond to a request for comment. Shah also did not respond to a request for comment. Kevin O’Brien, who previously represented the owners in court, declined to comment.

Future community space?

Rob Zabbia, past president of the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce, said during a phone interview businesses in the area supported the town's move to shut down the property. He said the facility was "an eyesore and a hazard right down the block from a school."

He said small-business owners have pitched the possibility of using the plot for community meeting space. 

"We don't really have a big community center in the area," Zabbia said. 

The town sued Om Shiv Shai Guru Inc. in state Supreme Court in February 2024 in an effort to temporarily shut down the property, arguing it violated town code and was a community nuisance.

In April 2024, the motel’s owners countersued the town, alleging Oyster Bay violated its own code and was excessive when it rescinded the business’ building permits and certificates of occupancy.

A town inspection of the site found significant issues, including exposed electrical wiring, faulty fire alarms and mold, court documents show.

The two sides reached a settlement in July 2024 that required the motel be demolished.

The next court date in the case is scheduled for Nov. 19.

CORRECTION: Rob Zabbia's title with the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.