Those who have lobbied the Town of Hempstead to allow the sale of the Courtesy Hotel in West Hempstead to a real estate developer that would build a rental apartment unit complex on the site are wondering just what it will take for the Courtesy Hotel to close.

On Sept. 13, Nassau County Police made an arrest at the hotel of a suspect alleged to have engaged in a sexual act with a girl under the age of 16.

According to police, a male suspect and female suspect brought the minor to the Courtesy Hotel to engage in prostitution. The police got involved after the child's mother called the police.

According to police, the male suspect engaged in some sexual relations with the minor. The male suspect was arrested at the hotel for endangering the welfare of a child. The female suspect was also arrested, according to police.

For years, members of the West Hempstead Civic Association including its past president Seth Bykofsky and current president Rosalie Norton have been lobbying the Town of Hempstead to close the Courtesy Hotel.

Those who want desperately to see the hotel closed believe their best chance is with a sale of the Courtesy Hotel property to developer Trammell Crow, which would build an apartment complex on the site. However, town officials believe the project is too dense for the commercial area the hotel sits on and will allow only 45 units per acre on the land, significantly lower than the 65 Trammell Crow is seeking.

In January, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead Board adopted an urban renewal plan for the area, but haven't made much progress with it, as the hotel continues to remain open with no closing date in sight.