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GREENBURGH, N.Y . Construction crews are set to break out the wrecking ball this week as demolition begins on a former homeless shelter and hotel.
Workers are expected to begin tearing down the former Westhab shelter and Kings Inn at 22 Tarrytown Road as soon as Monday, said Supervisor Paul Feiner.
On Friday, a crew from Capital Demolition was on the lot, moving cranes and prepping the site for work to begin. Feiner said it should take roughly a week for the work to be completed.
Built more than 60 years ago, the now-decrepit building was once home to a Kings Inn motel. Then, in the early 1990s, Westhab took over the lot, converting the motel into a homeless shelter for men.
In a 1998 New York Times article, residents praised Westhab for turning the lot around, saying the motel was sleazy and run-down, rampant with drug and prostitution problems.
But less than a decade after moving in, with the towns homeless population rapidly declining, the county was forced to shutter the Westhab shelter.
Now, the town is moving forward with a plan to demolish the inn and build a 28-unit, three-story affordable-housing complex. Officials promote the plan as a plus for Greenburgh and its working families.
Placing work force housing at this location is a big improvement over what was there for many decades, Feiner said. I personally think that work force housing at this location is great.
Residents at the neighboring Fulton Place Apartments said Friday they had mixed feelings about seeing the dilapidated structure come down.
While glad to finally be rid of the eyesore, many said they werent happy with the complex that will replace it, citing concerns of noise and overcrowding.
It is what it is, one resident said. Theres nothing we can do about it now.
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