Bellmore Preservation Group looks to the future

Bellmore might not yet have a civic association, but the community knows who to reach out to if a problem arises. For the past few years, the ad hoc Bellmore Preservation Group has taken up causes like fighting a proposed White Castle eatery on Sunrise Highway.

The Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals denied White Castle’s application to build a 24-hour restaurant, in large part because of the case put together by the Bellmore Preservation Group. Eileen Casazza spearheaded the campaign against White Castle and met Matt Walden, who had worked on other community issues in the past and offered his help to Casazza. The two are now easily recognized in the community as the faces of the Bellmore Preservation Group.

Walden and Casazza recently met with representatives of Bellmore-Merrick civic associations to further educate themselves going forward. “We’ve become more prepared for the future,” Walden said, adding that becoming a full-fledged civic association is still a ways off for the Bellmore Preservation Group.

As the need for a community organization grows, the necessity to transform into a civic association will likely grow as well, Walden and Casazza noted. “We’ve been able to respond to the community and the needs that they have as they arise,” Walden said.

Both Walden and Casazza said they continually encourage community members to bring issues that they feel need to be addressed. But Casazza said that any community member can step up and take action if the need presents itself. “Any person in the community…can make a difference,” Casazza said.

Aside from White Castle, the Bellmore Preservation Group also worked with Arby’s as the company recently sought approval to build a restaurant on Sunrise Highway. Arby’s was willing to make concessions to meet the community’s needs and was ultimately approved by the Town of Hempstead.

The group is also working on smaller projects, like achieving landmark status for the original railroad shelter at the Bellmore train station. Walden and Casazza plan to continue to educate themselves by meeting with local civic groups so that they are ready to transition their group to a civic association when them time comes.

“We’re here when the need arises; we are fact-finding to grow it down the road,” Casazza said. The duo also suggests that community members wishing to become involved and improve their community should reach out to the preservation group. The more people willing to be involved, Casazza noted, the easier the road to becoming a civic association will be.

Comments about this story? DKrasula@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.