Belmont, growth top Elmont summit

What is the best use for the 430-acre Belmont Park horseracing facility that sits on the Elmont-Floral Park border? That was one of the major questions posed to a panel of politicians and urban planners at last week’s second annual economic summit hosted by the Elmont Chamber of Commerce.

Although there was no consensus on exactly what use would be best for Belmont, the more than 40 summit attendees agreed that the racetrack, which is closed most of each year, is vastly underutilized and as such is not paying its fair share of local taxes.

“Belmont Park is closed almost 300 days each year,” said Muzzio Tallini, executive vice president of the Elmont Chamber, who moderated the summit.

Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages (D-Elmont), noted that the proposal by the Shinnecock Nation Indian tribe to turn Belmont into a casino was basically “dead” and that the community now needs to move forward with a new visioning plan that will accentuate the park’s assets, which include an LIRR station.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo does not support a proposed casino at Belmont, and in March the state allocated $50,000 for a study by the Empire State Development Corporation to look at possible redevelopment of the park.

Floral Park Mayor Thomas Tweedy, who initially told Tallini that he was “not aware” of the Empire State redevelopment study, said later that “we need to see an expansion of the world-renowned racetrack at Belmont.”

Agreeing that Belmont is underutilized, Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island said that “the casino issue has loomed large.” He added that many people in the area are willing to “entertain casino gambling.”

Tweedy noted that more than 17,000 jobs in the state are tied to the racing industry.

Some suggested uses for Belmont included a concert venue, an aquarium, a hotel and a convention center.

Alexander stressed that investors will be looking for redevelopment that is tried and true and will be likely to draw people and business. “Investors don’t want to be pioneers … they want sure things,” he said.

He pointed to areas such as Patchogue, Bay Shore and Huntington as successful areas that are anchored by music venues.