Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Move Over, Rod Serling. . .
From The West Hempstead Beacon:
Twilight Zoning
To the Editor:
Submitted for your approval. One downtrodden no-tell hotel. The epicenter of officially designated blight. To the east, a waste transfer station, where refuse sojourns through the night in its travels between no place and nowhere. To the west, a seemingly abandoned, litter-strewn, railroad right-of-way, home to rusting shopping carts and the invisible castaways of humanity.
The end of the line, both figuratively and literally, the screeching of a train’s steel against the cold tracks, piercing the deafening silence of a community’s collective voice, too long ignored, too often diminished to a whisper. A lonely whistle-stop somewhere west of a village that both time and Town forgot.
A Zoning Board that sits as Planning Board, rarely adept at either. “Twenty miles of ugly” along the turnpike. Down the avenue, a vigil to the ghosts of glory days past.
A people, not proud of their newly-acquired designation as “blighted,” who have offered up, over years that now meander into decades, a litany of reasons to close and raze that hellish hotel, only to hear in the echoes a barrage of excuses from Town Hall – the evils of Condemnation, the short-comings of Eminent Domain, the impracticalities of the Nuisance Law.
To endure, as no free and taxpaying people should have to, the consequences of malignant neglect on the part of a government that reacts but with hollow words and smiling photo ops.
That reasonable and resourceful “mix” of residential, retail, and recreational use – as proffered by the West Hempstead community since the cause of closing the Courtesy and revitalizing this gateway was first taken up in 1995 – would be the preferred route, all things being equal.
Then again, in the Town of Hempstead, few things are equal, the considerations of affiliation and connection, appearances of self-dealing and shortsightedness, oft times dismissive of that which should be the overriding measures of a government’s deliberations and decision-making, to wit, the preservation of the character of a community, and the promotion of the best and highest interests of its residents.
Whether the blight with which this hamlet is burdened is forever removed by way of Condemnation or private sale, through the long-in-coming will of government intervention or the workings of the free market, these are the reflections on a town government that has lost sight of its obligation to serve, not the parochial interests of the few, but rather, the greater good of the many.
Yes, somewhere in that vast void between darkness and light, lies a hamlet whose battle weary citizens, stakeholders in a land of broken promises, persistent in the cause, descend yet again upon Town Hall to make their case and speak their minds. Somewhere, in that place we call, The Twilight Zone.
Sincerely yours,
Seth D. Bykofsky
West Hempstead, New York
- - -
The writer is a longtime community advocate and former president of the West Hempstead Civic Association.
Blogger's Note: The Town of Hempstead Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing on July 11, 2007, on the merits of the Town's Urban Renewal Plan as prepared by the Department of Economic Development.
More than 150 residents were in attendance, the majority of whom questioned the efficacy of the Town's plan, called for the immediate closure and sale of the Courtesy Hotel, and demanded consideration of the Trammell-Crow proposal for redevelopment.
The Zoning Board reserved decision before adjourning for the evening.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Residents Pan Town's Urban Renewal Plan
Plan Precludes Development By Trammell-Crow; Ignores Voice Of Community
From the Malverne/West Hempstead Herald:
By Matthew McGevna
Civic leaders in West Hempstead are unhappy with the Town of Hempstead's recently unveiled plan for the 10.5 acres of property surrounding the Courtesy Hotel.
They say the town's Office of Planning and Economic Development is ignoring what they would like to see done with the parcels of blighted land.
The town's draft Urban Renewal Plan (URP), the product of a months-long study by the independent consulting firm Saccardi & Schiff, was scheduled for a public meeting before the Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday. The plan recommends, among other things, that developers build no more than 45 units per acre on the property where the Courtesy stands, preferably townhouses or senior housing. It also calls for additional commuter parking near the West Hempstead train station, and the preservation of open space on land south of the hotel site. The URP also recommends a mix of residential homes and commercial businesses on both sides of Hempstead Avenue.
But critics of the plan say there is no need to mix residences with businesses, and they don't see townhouses as a viable option, because families will be reluctant to buy there. "This isn't what I consider planning at its best," said West Hempstead Civic Association President Rosalie Norton. "I think the plan is ignoring West Hempstead residents."
Over the past several months, thousands of residents have signed letters and petitions endorsing the proposed plan of Trammell Crow Residential, a development firm currently in negotiation with Bruce Zwelsky, the owner of the Courtesy, to purchase the property. Trammell Crow¹s plan is to build multiple-story apartment buildings, believing that the complex would attract young professionals who would use the nearby train station to commute to New York City. The plan calls for 220 units in total, breaking down to roughly 80 units per acre. Since it began negotiating with Zwelsky, Trammell Crow¹s application for a zoning variance to accommodate its plan has been pending in the town's building department. In the meantime, the Office of Planning and Economic Development has requested and received a number of other proposals from other developers, and is considering Trammell Crow and three other candidates: the Sheldrake Organization, Breslin Realty and the Benjamin Group. To date, the only firm that has approached members of the West Hempstead community for their input is Trammell Crow.
The URP recommends zoning for 45 units per acre, half the density of Trammell Crow's plan. The URP includes an Environmental Assessment Form, which considers a project's environmental impact on the community. According to the form, 80 units per acre would not dramatically impact water use, land use, sewage, traffic or the local school district. The 5th Precinct even reported that its service to the area would actually decrease, because so much of its activity centers on the Courtesy. Still, the URP concludes that 80 units per acre would be too dense for the area, principally because such a project has never been built anywhere else within the town, and might establish a regrettable precedent.
"Just because you allowed it in one area, doesn¹t mean you have to allow it in all the others," said Norton. "Saccardi & Schiff determined that the area can handle 80, but the URP is recommending 45. They're going to ignore thousands of residents who say 80 units is fine."
"I think [Saccardi & Schiff] are taking cues from the Town of Hempstead," said Cathedral Gardens Civic Association President Scott Jablow. "The town is trying to do whatever they can to knock out the Trammell Crow project."
"I wouldn't exactly call the plan visionary," said Tony Brita, a member of the West Hempstead Board of Education. "We're in a position where we need to think of different ways to house people, and [the Trammell Crow proposal] was a new model, and the Town of Hempstead chose to play it safe."
"What disturbs me is the preclusion of the Trammell Crow proposal in its entirety, and [the town] basically thumbing its nose at the community at large," said Seth Bykofsky, a West Hempstead resident and activist. "The town refuses to consider projects other than what the town wants itself."
Many West Hempstead residents favor the Trammell Crow proposal because they believe it is more appropriate for the area, and because the developer has invited community input since day one. Its proposal would also produce an additional $1.1 million per year in tax revenue for the town. At 45 units per acre, the URP determined a tax revenue of just under $738,000 per year. "We want maximum tax money," Norton said. "We need as much as we can get in tax revenue."
Wednesday's meeting was the first opportunity for residents to voice their disapproval with the URP. If the plan is adopted by the town board, the board's next step is to choose the winning developer. Opponents of the plan say they will keep fighting as long as they have to, even if the fight carries over to Election Day.
Council members Edward Ambrosino and James Darcy, who represent West Hempstead, are running for re-election in November, along with Town Supervisor Kate Murray. "We're going to try to contact each council member," Jablow said. "And if the Democrats put a decent, hard-working opponent against Murray, I'd vote for that person. I'm that disappointed in [Murray's] actions. 'I've had it with her."
Comments about this story? Mal-wheditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
©Herald Community 2007
From the Malverne/West Hempstead Herald:
By Matthew McGevna
Civic leaders in West Hempstead are unhappy with the Town of Hempstead's recently unveiled plan for the 10.5 acres of property surrounding the Courtesy Hotel.
They say the town's Office of Planning and Economic Development is ignoring what they would like to see done with the parcels of blighted land.
The town's draft Urban Renewal Plan (URP), the product of a months-long study by the independent consulting firm Saccardi & Schiff, was scheduled for a public meeting before the Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday. The plan recommends, among other things, that developers build no more than 45 units per acre on the property where the Courtesy stands, preferably townhouses or senior housing. It also calls for additional commuter parking near the West Hempstead train station, and the preservation of open space on land south of the hotel site. The URP also recommends a mix of residential homes and commercial businesses on both sides of Hempstead Avenue.
But critics of the plan say there is no need to mix residences with businesses, and they don't see townhouses as a viable option, because families will be reluctant to buy there. "This isn't what I consider planning at its best," said West Hempstead Civic Association President Rosalie Norton. "I think the plan is ignoring West Hempstead residents."
Over the past several months, thousands of residents have signed letters and petitions endorsing the proposed plan of Trammell Crow Residential, a development firm currently in negotiation with Bruce Zwelsky, the owner of the Courtesy, to purchase the property. Trammell Crow¹s plan is to build multiple-story apartment buildings, believing that the complex would attract young professionals who would use the nearby train station to commute to New York City. The plan calls for 220 units in total, breaking down to roughly 80 units per acre. Since it began negotiating with Zwelsky, Trammell Crow¹s application for a zoning variance to accommodate its plan has been pending in the town's building department. In the meantime, the Office of Planning and Economic Development has requested and received a number of other proposals from other developers, and is considering Trammell Crow and three other candidates: the Sheldrake Organization, Breslin Realty and the Benjamin Group. To date, the only firm that has approached members of the West Hempstead community for their input is Trammell Crow.
The URP recommends zoning for 45 units per acre, half the density of Trammell Crow's plan. The URP includes an Environmental Assessment Form, which considers a project's environmental impact on the community. According to the form, 80 units per acre would not dramatically impact water use, land use, sewage, traffic or the local school district. The 5th Precinct even reported that its service to the area would actually decrease, because so much of its activity centers on the Courtesy. Still, the URP concludes that 80 units per acre would be too dense for the area, principally because such a project has never been built anywhere else within the town, and might establish a regrettable precedent.
"Just because you allowed it in one area, doesn¹t mean you have to allow it in all the others," said Norton. "Saccardi & Schiff determined that the area can handle 80, but the URP is recommending 45. They're going to ignore thousands of residents who say 80 units is fine."
"I think [Saccardi & Schiff] are taking cues from the Town of Hempstead," said Cathedral Gardens Civic Association President Scott Jablow. "The town is trying to do whatever they can to knock out the Trammell Crow project."
"I wouldn't exactly call the plan visionary," said Tony Brita, a member of the West Hempstead Board of Education. "We're in a position where we need to think of different ways to house people, and [the Trammell Crow proposal] was a new model, and the Town of Hempstead chose to play it safe."
"What disturbs me is the preclusion of the Trammell Crow proposal in its entirety, and [the town] basically thumbing its nose at the community at large," said Seth Bykofsky, a West Hempstead resident and activist. "The town refuses to consider projects other than what the town wants itself."
Many West Hempstead residents favor the Trammell Crow proposal because they believe it is more appropriate for the area, and because the developer has invited community input since day one. Its proposal would also produce an additional $1.1 million per year in tax revenue for the town. At 45 units per acre, the URP determined a tax revenue of just under $738,000 per year. "We want maximum tax money," Norton said. "We need as much as we can get in tax revenue."
Wednesday's meeting was the first opportunity for residents to voice their disapproval with the URP. If the plan is adopted by the town board, the board's next step is to choose the winning developer. Opponents of the plan say they will keep fighting as long as they have to, even if the fight carries over to Election Day.
Council members Edward Ambrosino and James Darcy, who represent West Hempstead, are running for re-election in November, along with Town Supervisor Kate Murray. "We're going to try to contact each council member," Jablow said. "And if the Democrats put a decent, hard-working opponent against Murray, I'd vote for that person. I'm that disappointed in [Murray's] actions. 'I've had it with her."
Comments about this story? Mal-wheditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
©Herald Community 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Public Hearing on the Fate of the Courtesy: Wednesday, July 11 at 5 PM
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!!! WEST HEMPSTEAD RESIDENTS CALLED UPON TO WEIGH IN ON THE FATE OF THE COURTESY HOTEL.
Zoning Board of Appeals to hold public Hearing on proposed Urban Renewal Plan
THIS WEDNESDAY, JULY 11 at 5 pm
Bennett Meeting Pavilion
Town Hall
1 Washington Street, Hempstead
From the West Hempstead Civic Association:
PRIVATE SALE/TRAMMEL CROW PLAN
220 upscale luxury apartments in 5 story buildings, with covered parking, large open green spaces, 62 feet apart, with 15 foot set back on 2.7 acre Courtesy Hotel Site
More discretionary income spent in local businesses
MAXIMUM tax revenue generation for WH = LOWER TAXES
Highly experienced, high quality builder
Highly experienced, ON SITE management team
NO NEED TO RELOCATE CURRENT COURTESY HOTEL RESIDENTS
NO NEED TO FIND NEW LOCATION FOR COURTESY HOTEL TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS
COURTESY GONE BY END OF 2007 and AREA QUICKLY REDEVELOPED
TOH FEDERALLY FUNDED URBAN RENEWAL PLAN
4 story buildings with 10 foot set back, 20 feet apart over 7 acres with uncovered parking, resulting in over 300+ units of unknown quality
Courtesy Hotel owner has VOWED to sue, appeal repeatedly and do all in his power to prevent TOH plan, resulting in costly legal battles and many hidden tax burdens being passed to residents
Will generate FAR less tax revenue
Relies on unknown plan with unknown developer, resembling failed projects in neighboring areas
Must find suitable housing for current residents of Courtesy – will they move them to the Capri next?
Must find new location for Courtesy Hotel (which the owner may appeal)
Will drive the highly reputable Trammel Crow Residential plan away
Likely to continue to drag on into the unforeseeable future
Same old, same old…
WHICH IS BETTER FOR WEST HEMPSTEAD?
TELL THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS THE TRAMMELL CROW PLAN IS BEST FOR WEST HEMPSTEAD AND, AS A VOTING TAXPAYER, YOU WANT THE HOTEL SOLD THIS YEAR.
Please make every effort to attend this meeting – put a face to the 2000+ letters and petitions submitted to Kate Murray on June 5th.
This is a critical moment for our town – the outcome depends on our determination and action!
Need a ride or more information? Contact the WHCA at 516-733-0879
Zoning Board of Appeals to hold public Hearing on proposed Urban Renewal Plan
THIS WEDNESDAY, JULY 11 at 5 pm
Bennett Meeting Pavilion
Town Hall
1 Washington Street, Hempstead
From the West Hempstead Civic Association:
PRIVATE SALE/TRAMMEL CROW PLAN
220 upscale luxury apartments in 5 story buildings, with covered parking, large open green spaces, 62 feet apart, with 15 foot set back on 2.7 acre Courtesy Hotel Site
More discretionary income spent in local businesses
MAXIMUM tax revenue generation for WH = LOWER TAXES
Highly experienced, high quality builder
Highly experienced, ON SITE management team
NO NEED TO RELOCATE CURRENT COURTESY HOTEL RESIDENTS
NO NEED TO FIND NEW LOCATION FOR COURTESY HOTEL TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS
COURTESY GONE BY END OF 2007 and AREA QUICKLY REDEVELOPED
TOH FEDERALLY FUNDED URBAN RENEWAL PLAN
4 story buildings with 10 foot set back, 20 feet apart over 7 acres with uncovered parking, resulting in over 300+ units of unknown quality
Courtesy Hotel owner has VOWED to sue, appeal repeatedly and do all in his power to prevent TOH plan, resulting in costly legal battles and many hidden tax burdens being passed to residents
Will generate FAR less tax revenue
Relies on unknown plan with unknown developer, resembling failed projects in neighboring areas
Must find suitable housing for current residents of Courtesy – will they move them to the Capri next?
Must find new location for Courtesy Hotel (which the owner may appeal)
Will drive the highly reputable Trammel Crow Residential plan away
Likely to continue to drag on into the unforeseeable future
Same old, same old…
WHICH IS BETTER FOR WEST HEMPSTEAD?
TELL THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS THE TRAMMELL CROW PLAN IS BEST FOR WEST HEMPSTEAD AND, AS A VOTING TAXPAYER, YOU WANT THE HOTEL SOLD THIS YEAR.
Please make every effort to attend this meeting – put a face to the 2000+ letters and petitions submitted to Kate Murray on June 5th.
This is a critical moment for our town – the outcome depends on our determination and action!
Need a ride or more information? Contact the WHCA at 516-733-0879
Monday, July 2, 2007
Town Vows To "Fight The Blight" In West Hempstead
Kate Murray's "Mission Accomplished" Banner To Hang From The Courtesy
“Fight The Blight” In West Hempstead
[Sung to the tune of The Bear Climbed Over The Mountain*]
Folks, it takes an entire Fleet of enemas to generate this much crap! As Ripley would say, “you can believe it, or NOT!”
*The Bear Climbed Over the Mountain
The bear climbed over the mountain,
The bear climbed over the mountain,
The bear climbed over the mountain,
And what do you think he saw?
He saw another mountain,
He saw another mountain,
He saw another mountain,
And what do you think he did?
He climbed the other mountain,
He climbed the other mountain,
He climbed the other mountain,
And what do you think he saw?
And on and on it goes. . .
The draft Urban Renewal Plan, now before the Hempstead Town Board of Zoning Appeals (copy available for review at the West Hempstead Public Library) calls for a density at half that proposed under the Trammell-Crow redevelopment plan -- effectively putting a nail in the coffin for the project favored by the West Hempstead community.
The Town's Board of Zoning Appeals (ZBA) has scheduled a public hearing on the draft Urban Renewal Plan for Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at 5 PM at the Town Meeting Pavilion, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead.
ALL WEST HEMPSTEAD RESIDENTS, AND THOSE SIMILARLY CONCERNED WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS GATEWAY TO THE WEST HEMPSTEAD COMMUNITY ARE URGED TO REVIEW THE PLAN AND TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING ON JULY 11th.
Those unable to attend the July 11th Hearing are encouraged to offer comment in writing by letter to:
Hon. Gerald G. Wright,
Chairman
Zoning Board of Appeals
Town of Hempstead
1 Washington Street
Hempstead, New York 11550
“Fight The Blight” In West Hempstead
[Sung to the tune of The Bear Climbed Over The Mountain*]
Folks, it takes an entire Fleet of enemas to generate this much crap! As Ripley would say, “you can believe it, or NOT!”
*The Bear Climbed Over the Mountain
The bear climbed over the mountain,
The bear climbed over the mountain,
The bear climbed over the mountain,
And what do you think he saw?
He saw another mountain,
He saw another mountain,
He saw another mountain,
And what do you think he did?
He climbed the other mountain,
He climbed the other mountain,
He climbed the other mountain,
And what do you think he saw?
And on and on it goes. . .
The draft Urban Renewal Plan, now before the Hempstead Town Board of Zoning Appeals (copy available for review at the West Hempstead Public Library) calls for a density at half that proposed under the Trammell-Crow redevelopment plan -- effectively putting a nail in the coffin for the project favored by the West Hempstead community.
The Town's Board of Zoning Appeals (ZBA) has scheduled a public hearing on the draft Urban Renewal Plan for Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at 5 PM at the Town Meeting Pavilion, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead.
ALL WEST HEMPSTEAD RESIDENTS, AND THOSE SIMILARLY CONCERNED WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS GATEWAY TO THE WEST HEMPSTEAD COMMUNITY ARE URGED TO REVIEW THE PLAN AND TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING ON JULY 11th.
Those unable to attend the July 11th Hearing are encouraged to offer comment in writing by letter to:
Hon. Gerald G. Wright,
Chairman
Zoning Board of Appeals
Town of Hempstead
1 Washington Street
Hempstead, New York 11550
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