Town board members who had long benefited from his political contributions and friendship would eventually allow commercial use, despite his history of violating town codes and judicial orders, and not paying his taxes. Long Island developer Gary Melius bought it in 1984 and turned it into a luxury hotel and wedding/event space. His condo plan collapsed a few years later, though, along with the real estate and stock markets. The resolution to approve the “floating castle zone” was sponsored by Petrone, Huntington’s supervisor. A Gannett Suburban Newspapers survey of corporate contributors that exceeded legal limits found that in 1995, the state’s worst offender was Melius’ Oheka Management Corp., which had exceeded the limits by $21,265. After Yokoi filed fraud charges against them in France, Nakahara spent a year in a French jail and Renoir spent more than 2 years in American prisons fighting extradition. In place of the obstructionism of the past, Melius retained a respected former town attorney and zoning expert, Arthur Goldstein, who aside from his formidable expertise was known for his charm, humor and personal modesty. Gary Melius is earning lots of money from the Oheka Castle. The castle, built in … Photo credit: All Island Aerial / Kevin P. Coughlin, Oheka Castle in November 2010. Thankfully, a developer named Gary Melius bought what was left, and its 23 acres, in the 1980s. Sitemap | Petrone changed parties to become a Democrat in 2002. Oheka lacked an operable sprinkler system and so Melius was ordered to install one. “I called four lawyers, and nobody knew this, so how the heck am I supposed to know? He began buying castles and other luxury residences in Europe and the United States, according to court testimony from a daughter, Kiiko Nakahara. Many celebrities such as, Megyn Kelly, Curtis Martin, Joey Fatone, has been married in this mansion. Gary Melius at Oheka Castle in October 1995. A royal experience, guests are welcomed to this premier historic hotel with charming European luxury and hospitality. It was the sort of moment people hope for when they buy lottery tickets. By the time Melius came to own the location, it had been significantly reduced down to just 23 acres. Campaign donations by Melius, family and his companies. I prefer to do what’s right.”, On Oct. 24, 1995, the Huntington Town Board voted to obtain a court order compelling Melius to remedy “dangerous conditions.”. He paid $6.9 million, roughly $15 million less than the recorded price that Yokoi had paid 15 years earlier. Fortunately, developer Gary Melius purchased Oheka in 1984 as well as the remaining 23 acres that surrounded the estate. Kahn built Oheka in response to Jews being forbidden entry to clubs and golf courses in Morristown, New Jersey and because in 1905, a previous country home of Kahn's, Cedar Court was virtually destroyed by fire. The Elena Melius Foundation, Megan’s Law, Angela’s House. VIDEO: Our team explores how Melius’ network operated. “I have to be able to sleep at night. Remarkable in itself, the transformation provides a lens into the workings of Long Island politics and shows how somebody who had nurtured powerful people could overcome a formidable array of obstacles to get what he needed. Beginning in the early 1990s, Melius defied the zoning and began promoting the castle for weddings and catered events. They are incomplete because local campaign records are available only as far back as 2006 and state and federal records go back only to the 1980s. For $1.5 million, Long Island developer Gary Melius purchased Oheka and took on the ambitious task of restoring both the castle and its formal gardens back to their … “We do not welcome another summer of lounge lizard music,” a neighbor, Sarah Dunn, wrote to the town in 1996, adding, “the more sleep I lose, the nastier I get.”. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. He ordered Oheka shut down until Melius met fire safety codes. Many people want to know about Gary’s bio, net worth etc. Christopher Okada remembered that in 1988 his father called Melius on behalf of his new Japanese client. Oheka Castle before restoration in the 1980s (courtesy) Because Kahn had insisted on fireproofing the castle, the structure managed to survive the arson attempts. In 2004, it permitted Melius to add signs and approved operation of a 50-room hotel and a health spa, which has yet to be built. Today, Oheka Castle is known as one of the most distinguished wedding locations in the world. Privacy Policy | You can visit Oheka.com for reserving their hotel room or weeding programs. Eventually repurposed and abandoned, developer Gary Melius began a careful and painstaking restoration of the castle in 1984, bringing OHEKA CASTLE back to its original grandeur. Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone at Oheka Castle in July 2008. Born in 1945 in the Jackson Heights section of Queens, New York, Gary Melius began his career as a plumber, became a builder, and eventually made his fortune in real estate. News accounts reported that hundreds attended the board’s hearing, with 19 speakers, according to the official transcript. Photo credit: Newsday / David L. Pokress, Steve Israel, a former Huntington councilman and then a U.S. representative, with wife Marlene Budd on Election Day in 2004. In addition to Petrone, board members Budd, Israel, Donald Musnug and Susan Scarpati-Reilly approved the zoning. In constructing the home, two years were s… In the last dozen years, Melius, his former son-in-law and his companies gave $33,742 to Frank Petrone, according to records. But he also paid special attention to his public image, which was honed to portray him as a committed preservationist intent on reclaiming a piece of Long Island history for the public’s benefit. Oheka is featured in episode 5. Photo credit: Newsday / David L. Pokress. In constructing Oheka, Kahn determined to build a fireproof building, so he had his architects, Delano and Aldrich, design the building out of steel and concrete, making it one of the first totally fireproof residential buildings. In addition, since 2005, the Huntington Town Democratic Committee has received at least $25,500 from Melius and his family members. Home » Posts tagged Gary Melius. Melius turned the … Cookie Settings | Steve Israel, a Huntington councilman in 1997 before his election to Congress, received at least $33,200 in donations from Melius and his family for his congressional campaigns. Tag: Gary Melius. For a private residence, though, Oheka was quite busy. Long Island developer Gary Melius bought it in 1984 and turned it into a luxury hotel and wedding/event space. None of this seems to matter.”. Soon, the number of events was burgeoning. Israel, Budd and Cuthbertson are all Democrats. Kahn built Oheka Castle between 1914 and 1919. Steve Israel, a former Huntington councilman and then a U.S. representative, with wife Marlene Budd on Election Day in 2004. She asked why they would allow him to operate a large business in a residential neighborhood, disrupting the quiet life she and her neighbors had once enjoyed. Records reveal at least 17 citations for illegal wedding receptions, blocked hallways, deadbolts on exit doors, plywood doors where fireproofing was required, combustible debris and unauthorized tree cutting. Gary Melius is the owner of Oheka Castle which is located in Long Island. She abstained from voting on Oheka matters after that. Residents of Oheka’s quiet upscale neighborhood, still upset by traffic, noise and previous battles with Melius, had mobilized against him. The castle’s exterior could not be altered and only one small “Oheka” sign was permitted. She said she wondered why the board would even consider a zoning provision for Melius after he had ignored safety and zoning regulations for years. “It is only these operations that do generate enough money to maintain and restore the building,” he commented. RESTAURANTS . Gary Melius, owner of Oheka Castle in Long Island, was shot on Monday. Photo credit: Newsday / Jim Peppler, Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone at Oheka Castle in July 2008. CATERERS. We do many things. By 1984, Oheka Castle and its remaining 23-acres was a shadow of its former self: there was no plumbing, no electricity; the gardens had gone, as had all the windows and doors. "When I first bought the property, it looked like something from a horror movie," Melius said. If you are planning to arrange a weeding program in Oheka Castle, you have to pay around $7000 to $12000 for location. This is the 2nd biggest private mansion in the USA. John Gotti Jr.’s lawyer promoted boxing matches through a company called Explosion Promotions. You might be using private browsing or have notifications blocked. Melius would soon sell Oheka for a recorded price that was 15 times higher than what he bought it for — and get to live there as caretaker to boot. But on the Gold Coast of Long Island there was Oheka Castle, and Gary Melius owned it. With new players, will LI’s entrenched system survive? Gary Melius sells Oheka to a Japanese billionaire, then buys it back. Apology to Gary Melius and OHEKA Castle June 03, 2019 In our May 25th edition we incorrectly reported that Oheka Castle was being pushed into bankruptcy court. Overview: Get a snapshot of our 7-part series. He hosted profit-making events like wedding celebrations, a $300-a-seat Debbie Gibson concert and even flea markets. This Oheka Castle is his main source of making money. The weddings, parties and other events were legal, he insisted, because they were private affairs, including the flea markets and Debbie Gibson concert. Melius repurchased the castle from Yokoi’s family during a booming real estate market in 2003. Then in 1993, Yokoi’s son-in-law, Jean-Paul Renoir, who was married to Nakahara, agreed to another deal, in which Melius leased back Oheka for $500,000 a year, records show, which apparently covered property taxes, maintenance and other operating expenses. He renovated the building and grounds to the tune of $30 million. “You have to stand for something in this world,” he said in a recent interview. He hosted private dinners and parties. The 120,000-square-foot … Oyster.com secret investigators tell all about OHEKA CASTLE Hotel & Estate. Photo credit: Newsday. For Melius, he invented a new zoning category tailor-made for Oheka. Gary Melius, the politically connected owner of Oheka Castle in Huntington, was shot and wounded at the sprawling Gold Coast estate on Monday, Suffolk County police said. In 2003, it allowed construction of a temporary banquet facility. Melius argued in a deposition that he was in compliance with zoning regulations because he believed there were no restrictions on renting out the residence. Considered broadly, between 1985 and 2000, Melius, his family, his companies and employees contributed at least $180,515 to federal, state and local political campaigns, according to campaign finance records. He used Oheka to impress prospective business partners. The owner of Long Island’s opulent Oheka Castle declared Tuesday “Thank God I’m alive” after surviving an attempted assassination on Monday. He turned his attention to trying to transform the castle into a destination, a place for weddings, parties and other events. This suggestion was pointing out that the actions of the lender, LNR, could push a lesser entity in that direction. He said, though, that the operations had to be limited, as they were in the proposed restrictions, to minimize the impact on the neighborhood. The libel suit against Dunn, who declined to be interviewed for this story, was eventually settled. “So my dad scouted the tristate area, and there’s not a lot of castles in the tristate area.”. Posted on January 9, 2021 15:02:53 January 10, 2021 11:52:33 Author Pam Robinson Leave a comment. Petrone said that while he couldn’t remember specifics, the changes had community support. The Huntington, Long Island property, called Oheka Castle, was featured in the classic film "Citizen Kane." Gary Melius & the Oheka Castle Hotel. Gary Melius Reflects on Oheka Castle Shooting - YouTube The reward for tips leading to the arrest of the assailant who shot and wounded Oheka Castle … They collected 300 signatures on a petition against his plans and hired an attorney, John Flanagan, currently the Republican majority leader of the State Senate, to fight him. Lawrence Cregan, who was then town attorney, said he felt compelled to take action against Oheka. Alysia: A lot of people do not know Oheka Castle is not just for weddings…. I have to be able to face my children should something ever come to question. “I have a very strong feeling that he is just getting warmed up,” she said. So, you already have known about Gary Melius net worth and about his mansion. The Castle, built in the 1920s, is said to be the second-largest private home ever built in the US. A day after a 1994 “gala evening of tribute” for Frank Grimes, then the Huntington Democratic Party leader, a fire inspector warned Melius in writing to stop using Oheka as “a place of public assembly” until he obtained the required license. Joseph Cassella, who was then Huntington’s chief fire marshal, said in an affidavit that “a potential catastrophe was barely averted” when children at a bar mitzvah in 1995 were led into a darkened basement for a “Halloween experience.” The basement was decorated with combustible materials that caught fire, then were extinguished, Cassella said. She moved out of the neighborhood. Photo credit: Newsday / Jim Peppler. And she expressed astonishment that no one on the town board felt compelled to come to her defense after Melius’ libel lawsuit, which was based on her public comments and her correspondence to the town as a Huntington citizen. He settled the case by agreeing to do so. Copyright © var currentYear = new Date().getFullYear();document.write(currentYear); Newsday. He probably contributed to all the politicians on Long Island.”. But in Huntington, Melius was playing on his home field and determined to find a way to operate Oheka commercially. The most reliable place for accurate and unbiased hotel reviews. Thirty-three people died. “I don’t understand how zoning codes and fire codes and safety laws go completely unchecked,” Dunn said. Gary Melius was shot by a masked armed man in 2014. Browse real photos from our stay. Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius was shot in the head by a masked gunman Feb. 24, 2014 as he sat in his car at the luxury hotel. “Anything that took place at Oheka the community was involved in and spoke for,” he said. “Nothing.”. Oheka Condos Moving Forward Again May 21, 2020 Oheka owner Gary Melius has new plans for development of condominiums on the grounds of Oheka Castle. Oheka Castle Featured in Fox Nation Series. Photo credit: Newsday / David L. Pokress. A dominant figure in local Democratic politics as a fundraiser and strategist and a longtime friend of Melius, he held the wedding of a daughter at Oheka in 2013. Hosted Jeanine Pirro,a former prosecutor turned Fox News host, the five-part Castles … Speaker Knockerz Net Worth Cause of Death Biography, How Your Toxic Relationship Impacts Your Mental …, Understanding Stress and Your Body: A Holistic …, What Is Uveitis? Oheka is featured in episode 5. Oheka Castle was bought up in 1984 by developer Gary Melius who purchased the destroyed property and its remaining 23-acre plot for $1.5 million. Goldstein took note of neighborhood concerns and acknowledged them in the restrictions that accompanied the new zoning category. Petrone said Melius worked hard to win over the community. Melius bought the Oheka Castle in 1984 for $1.5 million after it had fallen into disrepair. “The truth was that he performed miracles there and saved us from the horrors of an empty building that was attracting teenagers,” Schaffer said in an interview. By 1997, he owed $668,557, tax records show. Virtually every important restriction enacted in 1997 was eliminated or eased over the next few years. And he went to work, pouring money into a meticulous restoration he hoped would not only prove worthwhile on its own, but also would open the way for the lucrative development of 39 luxury condos. He invited members to Oheka and allowed them to hold free parties there, as well as association meetings. Oheka Castle was also the scene of a crime – one of Long Island's most notorious – in 2014, when Melius was shot in the head in the castle’s parking … Kahn built Oheka Castle between 1914 and 1919. Perhaps most significantly, the building could not be expanded, limiting the possibility of truly large events. Despite his financial struggles in the ’90s, Melius still managed to finance his political lifeline, particularly in Huntington. It was edited by Martin Gottlieb and Alan Finder. Suffolk County police on Thursday released surveillance footage of the shooting at Oheka Castle in 2014. Ted Owens, then the president of Friends of Oheka, told the board that permitting “some limited commercial use” was essential to the castle’s survival. And Oheka’s circumstances were worse than they looked on the surface. Oheka Castle is featured as part of a series Fox Nation series that will be available online as of Monday. 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