Work still has not begun on Village Square

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The City of Glen Cove would like to see the revitalization efforts for the downtown move forward. But work planned for this spring has not begun at the Village Square, because one tenant housed in a 2,000-square-foot parcel — Dr. Joseph Onorato — refuses to leave.
RXR Realty, the group that is developing Garvies Point, would like to purchase the property in order to proceed with the revitalization. It purchased the rest of the property — 2.8 acres — at a private sale. If Onorato and RXR cannot reach an agreement, the Glen Cove Industrial Development Agency has said that it would continue the eminent-domain proceedings it began in mid-January.
RXR plans to turn the downtown area into apartments, stores and a public plaza. The developer has found an alternate location for Onorato’s office, but that has not led to a commitment by the doctor to relocate.
Although little new information has been made available to the IDA, its executive director, Glen Cove Deputy Mayor Barbra Peebles, said she remains encouraged. “I think we’re going to hear within a few days,” she said.
The project’s plans will be considered by the planning board at a public hearing on June 6, and they are also on the June 15 agenda for the zoning board.

Other members of the IDA say they are also optimistic. Peebles said she believes that Onorato and RXR will make a deal by the end of June. “Until I’m told that there’s no deal, we’re not going to pull that trigger,” she added, referring to eminent domain.
Onorato’s new attorney, Eugene Ferenick said, “At the moment, we’re not making any kind of statement.”
His former attorney, Saul Fenchel, said in March that he was confident that Onorato and RXR could come to an amicable solution.
Residents voiced their opinions on the project at a public hearing held by the IDA on May 23. Drew Lawrence, a former member of the Glen Cove Zoning Board, said that eminent domain is illegal because the property is not for the public benefit, but “purely for the benefit of the developer.”
IDA attorney Michael Zarin disagreed, saying that viewpoint was patently incorrect. “It’s a public purpose to condemn property for redevelopment even if it has incidental private benefits,” Zarin said.
He added that the IDA is working to help RXR and Onorato reach an agreement and avoid condemnation. “I think we’re very close to a private sale without condemnation,” Zarin said. “Condemnation has always been viewed by the city as a last resort.”
In the event of eminent domain proceedings, the city would take possession of the property and compensate the parcel owner for his portion of the land. Peebles said that a private deal would be much more beneficial for Onorato than eminent domain.
At the IDA hearing, Zarin said that a full environmental review of the Village Square project is being conducted by the planning board, which is also examining its potential impact on traffic, aesthetics and parking.
Some are losing patience with what has proven to be a long process. “There are times, such as in the current situation at village square, where so many of our small businesses are depending on new development that difficult choices have to be made,” said Francine Koehler, the executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement District. “This blighted area has been an eyesore for too many years. If eminent domain is what it takes to make this project move forward, the Downtown BID stands in support of taking this unfortunate but necessary step.”