The infamous Bel-Aire Motel has been torn down in Hampton Bays

Property maintenance issues. An overflowing septic system. Infestation.

The notices of violation issued by Southampton Town against the former owners of the Bel-Aire Motel had racked up over the years in Hampton Bays.

The complaints from neighbors had gotten so bad, that the town ultimately purchased the property in 2019 for $1 million.

And now it’s gone.

The buildings at 20 Shinnecock Road were razed last month, officials said.

The background

After the town purchased the property, the wrangling with what to do with the 1.3-acre waterfront parcel began.

Civic groups, community leaders and private developers offering competing visions for the once-popular lodging spot that served Hamptons visitors from the 1950s into the 1990s.

(That was until the property started functioning as what town officials described as an illegal apartment complex.)

Proposals for the Bel-Aire property had ranged from a boutique hotel to condominiums for senior citizens, officials said.

In the end, the town decided to turn the property into parkland.

“Tearing down this building is an important first step towards removing a long standing blight from the Hampton Bays community,” Southampton Town Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara said in a statement issued Aug. 30, when demolition began.

The town plans to install a kayak launch with direct access to Penny Pond at the new park. The Southampton Town Trustees also own an adjoining lot directly to the east, which also borders the pond.

Check back with Greater Long Island for updates. Photos below from Southampton Town.