Town encourages development on vacant land in Elmont

A chain-linked fence has enveloped vacant land in Elmont for the past 20 years. Now, however, town officials are hoping to develop it.

They released a second request for proposals at the end of last month, stating that the town is interested in projects that would “keep an existing business in the community, attract new businesses to the community, create jobs, create additional parking or enhance the aesthetics of the community” on the vacant land north of Hempstead Turnpike between Makofske and Rouquette avenues. 

“We are looking for something that is going to help transform that area,” said Scott Cushing, a community research assistant for the town’s planning department.

The land previously housed a tavern and a garage, he noted, but gasoline from the garage seeped into the ground over time and contaminated the property, at which point the town took it over.

But by 2008, residents started to ask town officials to redevelop the land.  They wrote in the Elmont Vision Plan that they would like to see mixed-use properties on the vacant land that would complement nearby businesses. There are currently a Pep Boys Auto Parts store, a Mavis Discount Tire, a Crown Fried Chicken, a discount store and a kitchen supply store in the surrounding area.

Then, in 2011, then-Supervisor Kate Murray worked with State Sen. Jack Martins to fund a clean up of the site for future development.

Now, town officials want any development at the site to complement the Belmont Park project. In fact, Cushing said, Supervisor Donald Clavin directed the Department of Planning and Economic Development to draft the request in a way that would encourage Islanders fans to stop, shop and eat in Elmont.

“This is the right time to do something transformational,” Cushing said, “and make it a destination place.”

The town previously put out another request for development at the site in the fall, Cushing said, but only received one proposal. As a result, he said, officials decided to release another request in February.

“Supervisor Clavin specifically feels that this is a real diamond in the rough property,” Cushing said. “That’s why we’re measuring twice, and only cutting once.”

Proposals are due at the Department of Planning and Economic Development on March 27 at 4 p.m.