Demolition crews will begin taking down a former motel in Island Park to make way for veterans housing on Wednesday.

The former Long Beach Motor Inn, located at 3915 Austin Blvd., has been vacant and blighted after being severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, but today, the property will get a second chance, helping Long Island's heroes.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is leading the project, which will create 57 units of affordable housing for veterans. The efforts are part of the non-profit's mission to combat veteran homelessness on Long Island.

There are more than 80,000 veterans in our communities, according to United Way of Long Island.

The new development will also offer critical services, including job training, education assistance, financial management support, legal advocacy, medical care, mental health services like PTSD counseling and addiction treatment.

Earlier this year, Nassau County donated the land to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Demolition is scheduled to begin today at 11 a.m.

The project is expected to be ready in 2027.