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Mostly Cloudy Hempstead town board calls hearing on Albanese Development proposal for Baldwin downtown project
Residents, company officials to give testimony on Tuesday
The Hempstead town board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday to determine whether Albanese Development's proposal is a viable choice for the massive urban renewal project planned in downtown Baldwin.
Some residents would say they have anticipated the project for nearly a decade. Ongoing talks of revitalization have long frustrated the community and Grand Avenue business owners, who have been waiting patiently for some kind of development to begin in Baldwin's blighted business district.
Over the past 19 years, businesses in the downtown area have struggled not only with the high costs of rent and commercial taxes, but with constant rumors of pending revitalization that will eventually force them to leave their stores. Business owners have been hesitant to make repairs to their shops, necessary or aesthetic, because they do not believe they will be in the area much longer.
Many residents describe the condition of Baldwin's downtown as deplorable. They say they deserve a booming downtown, filled with restaurants and attractive shops, like neighboring Rockville Centre. Many residents have complained that there is simply nothing of value in their
downtown.
The town board will hear testimony on Tuesday from Albanese Development officials, the town planning board and residents in favor of and opposed to the project. The board has the option to designate the developer for the project at the meeting.
Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony Santino, who has worked for several years to improve Baldwin's downtown, has presented the Albanese Development proposal to the community on several occasions. Santino said he feels that the plan would improve the community economically and help attract nonresidents to the area.
"I am certainly enthusiastic about this proposal, given the outstanding track record that this developer has dealing with a similar downtown revitalization effort in Garden City," Santino said. "Despite the many setbacks that the great recession of the past few years have put in our way, [Supervisor] Kate Murray and I have never wavered in our determination to revitalize downtown Baldwin in a way that will benefit the entire community."
