Atlantic Beach village land ruckus continues

The brouhaha over Atlantic Beach village’s decision to obtain two parcels of vacant land through eminent domain that the Chabad of the Beaches, in Long Beach, purchased in November for $950,000, continued at the Feb. 14 trustee meeting.

At the Valentine’s Day meeting, the five-member board voted unanimously to approve a resolution that 90 days after the public comment period, which ended on Jan. 24, the findings will become public record.

Mayor George Pappas said that no action will be taken concerning eminent domain until then. Eminent domain is the legal right of a government to buy private land within its borders and to compensate the owner of the land.

One of the targeted properties is 2025 Park Street, which includes a vacant structure that would be transformed into a community center and used as a recreational facility with beach lifeguard operations by the village. Parcel Two, at 2035 Park Street, would be used as a community park, with open space, seating and landscaping.

The two properties total 18,500 square feet, and are adjacent to an existing village-owned recreational facility that includes tennis and pickleball courts and a basketball court.

Rabbi Eli Goodman, the leader of the Chabad of the Beaches, did not attend the meeting, but told the Herald that he has spoken to lawyers on how to proceed and protect their interests.

“I am very upset, this is clear discrimination and it is totally, totally unacceptable,” he said, adding that the Chabad is planning to build, “a beautiful center not only for the Jewish community but for all the residents.”

Residents Victoria Simao and Danielle Strauss, voiced their opposition to the village buying the parcels, especially since the acquisition will cost the village at least the price the Chabad of the Beaches paid for the parcels.

Simao, whose family previously owned the two properties, calculated that the overall cost to the village could be closer to $2 million adding in attorney’s fees for a land acquisition Atlantic Beach really does not need considering there are other sites for the community center the village proposes.

Strauss not only opposed Atlantic Beach’s plan at the meeting, she blogged her opposition that also garnered support from a few community residents. “I have attended meetings for over 10 years and from what I recall, and correct me if I am wrong, the Village administration spent significant capital to renovate the Village Plaza offices and the residents were told that would be used for a community center. Never happened,” she wrote.

As of press time, Pappas did not return a call for comment.

The board did follow Nassau County’s lead in exempting Chabad of the Beaches from paying village property tax for the coming fiscal year on the former Capital One building at 2025 Park Street. The village tax on that parcel for the 2021-22 fiscal year ending May 31 amounts to $6,517.70.

Have an opinion on the Atlantic Beach eminent domain proposal? Send letters to jbessen@liherald.com.

Two parapgraphs of Danielle Strauss's blog that were published in the newspaper were deleted at the request of the author.