Baldwin revitalization can't be achieved through one project

On May 25, I attended the Baldwin/South Hempstead Town Meeting hosted by Hempstead Town Senior Councilman Anthony Santino. Several topics were discussed, including the rash of recent fires on Grand Avenue and Merrick Road and the status of the downtown revitalization project. Councilman Santino described the scope of the project and announced that Albanese Development was selected as the builder.

While the proposal developed by Albanese Development, if completed, would be an asset to the community, Councilman Santino failed to adequately address some of the concerns raised by myself and others in attendance.

First and foremost is the absence of viable businesses that might draw new residents to the community. Baldwin lacks the shopping streets that neighboring Merrick and Rockville Centre thrive on. Nor does Baldwin have the equivalent of Freeport's Nautical Mile. What then will draw tenants to rent in the roughly 140-unit "high-end" residential complex?

Although the proposed project has carved out retail space and open areas, one block of retail space is not enough to draw interest from potential residents.

Councilman Santino pointed out that we must take baby steps to revitalize Baldwin. His demonstration of baby steps, while entertaining, minimized some residents' very real reservations of this project's potential effectiveness in revitalizing Baldwin, given the overall state of our community.

What about North Baldwin? The general condition, appearance, and cleanliness of North Baldwin is sub-par. I would assume that a large portion of potential tenants would enter Baldwin from the Southern State Parkway. The street view of that route is not encouraging.

Councilman Santino lamented that we have landlords that only seem interested in renting to dollar stores and the like. But I think that he is missing the big picture. There are things that can be done to help improve Baldwin right now.

The proposed project would take four or five years to complete — and that is a good time frame for revitalizing the rest of Baldwin. Since Grand Avenue is the major thoroughfare from North Baldwin to the downtown area, I would start there.