UPDATED: Huntington Town Board Approves Oheka Castle Condominium Plan (With Conditions)

Huntington’s Oheka Castle has been a historic landmark in the town for nearly 100 years, but in recent years, the castle has faced financial difficulty. The Huntington Town Board recently approved a proposal that would see 95 condominium units built on the castle’s 22-acre property.

MARCH 21 UPDATE: The Huntington Town Board approved Oheka Castle’s bid to add luxury condominiums on Monday, March 20th after cleaning up the language in a new resolution. The approval received four yes votes, and Oheka’s owner can now submit site plans for town approval. A re-vote was necessary due to grammatical errors in the language of the original resolution passed last week.

Original Coverage:

The proposed condominium project is set to be four stories high and approximately 200,000 square feet, offering permanent housing to those looking to invest in the castle’s history.

News 12 Long Island reports that “condos are expected to start at $1.8 million“.

The town board voted in favor of the plan, with Councilwoman Joan Cergol abstaining. Although not everyone was in favor of the proposal, the majority agreed that it would help preserve the castle and allow for its maintenance.

Back in February, Lawyer Michael McCarthy (representing Oheka Castle) explained that the castle’s current financial situation was the reason behind the proposal, stating that the castle is in “jeopardy” due to the current financial crisis.

Condominium buyers would pay annual dues, which would provide a steady cash flow and help the castle to satisfy its debts.

Huntington Supervisor Edmund Smyth pointed out that this proposal could help preserve the historic building and is a “lifeline to a very, very unique property within the town.” He continued stating that Huntington needs to be mindful “that we ensure properties within the town — commercial properties for that matter — remain economically viable.” Smyth also said, “I’m concerned that down the road, we don’t have a second Coindre Hall on our hands where we have a very large structure that has limited use that has no funds for proper maintenance.”

A fund of $2 million will be established with the primary purpose of preserving the castle, and the town agency will oversee the management of the funds for the maintenance of the existing castle structure and may also allocate some of them towards the preservation of another local historical property.

Under the new proposal, each condominium unit owner will also have to pay 15 percent of their annual dues towards the castle’s upkeep. The property may also not be subdivided further, ensuring that the castle’s integrity is preserved.

Despite some opposition, a significant number of people support the proposal as a necessary measure to ensure the castle’s longevity. Councilman Eugene Cook expressed that Oheka Castle is a “stunning location that requires proper maintenance,” and the proposal is an appropriate measure for its future.

After the vote, Smyth stated, “I would congratulate the Cold Spring Country Club for now having the most valuable piece of unbuildable land on Long Island.”

The owner of Oheka Castle, Gary Melius, is now eligible to submit a site plan application for constructing condominium units on the west side of East Gate Drive, situated to the north of Colonial Drive.

Overall, the proposal offers a potential solution to Oheka Castle’s financial difficulties while also allowing for the castle’s maintenance and preservation. However, some concerns do remain about the impact the new condominiums may have on the castle’s historic value and atmosphere.

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