By Liz McBreen
As part of the plan that is meant to enhance suburban life while increasing its prosperity and sense of community pride, Suozzi's strategy for Nassau breaks the county down into 35 Economic Development Areas. Last Thursday afternoon, Suozzi, community leaders and long-time Elmont and N. Valley Stream residents Suozzi had invited to join him took a tour of Development Area No. 20. "These tours are a tool that my team and I will use to educate ourselves and help us decide what should be happening in different communities," said Suozzi.
As the Nassau County bus wove through Elmont and North Valley Stream, community leaders and activists identified problems and eyesores that have been concerns for some time, but have not been directly addressed due to lack of representation in the unincorporated area.
Chamber of Commerce President Chris Rosado, Past President Paul Sapienza, Gateway Youth Outreach Director Pat Boyle, Sister Evelyn Lamoreaux of St. Boniface Church, Community Liaison Norma Dibartola, Elmont School Board member Aubrey Phillips and Bruce Beaver of the Rotary Club were among the community leaders and residents on the bus to help Suozzi get acquainted with some of the long-standing problems that exist in Elmont.
Leaders pointed out the abandoned Argo Theatre and vacant lots throughout the community, discussing problems involved with the alternating types of zoning along the entire stretch of Meacham Avenue.
By the end of the tour, Suozzi had pinpointed three concerns that he will address immediately. They include clearing the "truck graveyard" on Hoffman Avenue, which has been home to several abandoned trucks and tractors for years, requesting that the gas depot across from Beth David Cemetery clean up its appearance and checking into the zoning permit of a Learning Center next to Gotham Avenue Elementary School.
The long-term goals Suozzi proposed for Elmont include putting an end to illegal housing and promoting the tourist value of Belmont Racetrack. "There is no reason why Elmont should not be as well known for the Belmont Stakes as Louisville is for the Kentucky Derby," said Suozzi.
In addition to the driving tours, Suozzi has also had a complete aerial tour of the county and has been supplied with aerial images of the infrastructure. These steps are preparation for the 35 meetings that the county executive is hosting, one in each Development Area, where he will listen to residents' concerns and input regarding their communities. The first of these meetings was held on Thursday evening at Clara H. Carlson Elementary School in Elmont.
At the meeting, Suozzi gave an overview of the Economic Development Plan to the capacity crowd in the auditorium of the elementary school. "To prepare for these meetings, my office sent questionnaires to residents to get an idea of what concerns the residents," he said. "The overwhelming response in this area was illegal housing." Elmont traditionally has one of the county's highest rates of tenants occupying unauthorized apartments in single-family homes.
Although the illegal residents are mostly an issue dealt with by the Town of Hempstead, Suozzi intends to help residents get in touch with the right people at the Town of Hempstead in order to hasten a solution to the problem.
Suozzi explained that Nassau County is the country's oldest suburban community, and with that distinction come certain problems. Challenges that the county is facing include a lack of open space, traffic problems, pollution and pockets of poverty across the area.
"We are experiencing overdevelopment, overcrowding and deterioration of downtown areas," said Suozzi. "In certain aspects, Nassau County has stopped growing, and we want it to keep growing while enhancing a suburban way of life."
For Elmont, he believes a more distinct change in scenery would make the community proud. "We want people to know that they are leaving Queens and entering Nassau County," he said.
County Legislator John Ciotti agrees with the plan, but wants the interest of towns in Nassau County to remain paramount. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the area, but we have to make sure we can fund the program while maintaining the quality of life in the county," he said.
Suozzi's overall plan proposes six solutions to the problems currently facing the county, which are to be carried out with the resources that are already at the county's disposal but would include one tax increase during his term. Because not every concept will apply to each of the Development Areas, Suozzi will visit each one and decide which goals to set for individual regions.
The six initiatives include creating high-tech/high skilled industries, revitalizing downtown business districts, redeveloping brownfields, creating affordable housing, preserving open spaces and promoting sports, entertainment and tourism in the county.
Suozzi said he hopes to realize these goals through a partnership with the towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay as well as village officials and business and community leaders.
In regard to Elmont, Suozzi would like to see the four 'downtown' areas promoted and built up, which he believes will give the town an increased sense of identity. "A downtown area builds a community. It gives residents a place where they can gather and shop. It also provides more jobs and helps the economy."
Land referred to as a brownfield is an abandoned plot that is difficult to recycle because it may contain pollutants. Developing this kind of land is generally a long process, said Suozzi, because contractors have to deal with the Environmental Protection Agency and abide by certain codes. "We have to give developers an incentive to come in and recycle and reuse these properties. The result will be additional jobs, and the pollution will be cleaned up."
The county executive also stressed the need for affordable housing in Elmont and to preserve what open space is left.
A major long-term goal that Suozzi has set for Elmont is to increase the visibility of Belmont Park Race Track, home to the oldest leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. He would like to see the facade of the racetrack cleaned up and the businesses connected with it organize to increase local promotion of racing.
Suozzi is hoping that the current 'Horses of a Different Color' project will get more people interested in the racetrack. The county is now looking for businesses or individuals to sponsor -- and paint -- fiberglass horses for $4,000 each. Much like New York City's popular fiberglass cow project, the horses will be exhibited in a variety of public venues from April through October of this year, and be featured in area parades. At the end of the program, the horses that aren't purchased by their sponsors (for an additional $3,500) will be auctioned off.
Answering residents' questions as to how new businesses could be attracted to the area, Suozzi explained that although Elmont's application to set up an Empire Zone was turned down by the state, he would re-apply next year. An area that has been declared an Empire Zone can offer tax breaks and other incentives to new businesses.
Suozzi added that under the plan, any prospective businesses would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and would not be accepted unless they match the county's vision for an improved Elmont.
Maria Gregory of Elmont is concerned for her community's future. Mentioning some of the problems in town, including a large abandoned building on Meacham Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike, she said, "We have to give young families some incentive to settle here."
Another Elmont resident, Joe Sardone, was angry about the rampant problem of illegal housing. "This plan talks about affordable housing, but affordable to me is my home," he said. "What is not affordable is the ever-increasing taxes that I have to pay because of illegal residents."
Since many of the concerns that residents voiced, such as illegal housing and parking issues, are controlled by the town, Suozzi asked residents to contact Katie Schwab, a member of the Nassau County Planning Committee. Schwab will help residents contact the correct official or representative. She can be reached at 571-0461 or katie.schwab@mail.co.nassau.ny.us.
Suozzi closed the meeting by urging residents to let their neighbors know about the meeting, and to keep the county informed of their concerns. "Get people interested so that we can develop a vision for the future of the county," he said, adding, "We cannot reach these goals overnight, but if we work together, we can make changes."
