By Marley Seaman
The plan was presented at a town meeting organized by the West Hempstead Civic Association at West Hempstead Middle School on Oct. 11. Some enthusiastically supported the plan, saying it could revitalize the area, giving young people the opportunity to stay in West Hempstead and bringing other developers and businesses to improve the local economy. "I think, if we have the vision, that a project like this can build West Hempstead up, not build it down," said Seth Bykofsky, former president of the civic association.
Other residents, however, said it would be a major mistake for the hamlet. They said that similar rental developments in other communities have generated little interest, and that it would make the area look more like Queens. "This is not the answer," said Bill Sammon. "[It would] change the intrinsic nature of the community."
The development firm Trammell-Crow Residential is under contract to purchase the two-and-three-quarter-acre property, which includes the hotel, for $62 million. The Town of Hempstead has attempted to condemn the hotel in the past, and this spring it adopted a study declaring the area blighted. Community members have long said that the hotel is a magnet for crime, including drug dealing and prostitution.
Maria Rigopoulos, a Trammell-Crow development associate, gave a slide presentation showing what Alexan might look like, outside and in. She said the rebuilt residence would include landscaped courtyards, a community swimming pool, a clubhouse, fitness center, business center and kitchen, along with 150 parking spaces on two levels. Individual units would include amenities like washer and dryers, and computer nooks in the kitchen that would be wired for Internet access.
Trammell-Crow would also like to "adopt" the West Hempstead Long Island Rail Road station to beautify it. Rigopoulos said that access to the train station would be a major draw for potential renters, as many of the residents would commute to work in New York City.
"If there was ever a right spot for a development like this, it's this site," she said, adding that the firm had conducted a market study that showed a pressing need for a housing development. Young professionals would be attracted to Alexan, Rigopoulos said. The development would be especially appealing to people between the ages of 20 and 34, although "empty-nesters" and divorcees might also want to live there.
"I know intimately that there is a huge demand for viable housing, and a huge need," Rigopoulos said.
Of the 220 units proposed, half would have two bedrooms, 77 would have one bedroom and 33 would have three bedrooms. They would be leased for one year each. Rigopoulos estimated that a renter would need an annual salary of $70,000 to $100,000 to qualify. A one-bedroom apartment would rent for $1,950 per month, and a three-bedroom would cost $2,700 per month.
Some audience members complained that young people would be unable to afford the apartments. Rigopoulos replied that the renters would have roommates, and that the Alexan units would be cheaper and more fully furnished than comparable apartments in Manhattan.
One resident asked if the buildings could be made smaller or the number of units reduced. Attorney Albert D'Agostino, who spoke on behalf of Trammell-Crow, said that was impossible because of the size and cost of the property. "This deal, based on the price, either requires us to do this or we can't do anything," D¹Agostino said.
Sammon, who lives in West Hempstead, was opposed to the idea. He said the building would lead to more apartments being built in town and around Nassau County, increasing population density and bringing about what he called "the urbanization of suburbia." "We do not need rental units in this area," said Sammon. "This is not the answer ... the Courtesy is coming down either way."
Sammon received a lengthy round of applause when he finished speaking.
D'Agostino said that the hotel might remain for some time if Trammell-Crow does not purchase the site, or that it could be replaced by an equally undesirable building, such as a storage facility or another hotel. "I understand [the Courtesy's owners] are ready to litigate until the cows come home, because they have a very good business there," he said.
D¹Agostino also said it was possible that, if demand were sufficient, the rental units could be made into condominiums in three to five years.
WHCA President Rosalie Norton later remarked that the Town of Hempstead worked for three years trying to get rid of the Courtesy through eminent domain proceedings, condemnation and other means. None of those attempts were successful.
While some audience members said they were concerned about changing the makeup of Cathedral Gardens and West Hempstead, others said the town must change with the times, doing more to keep young people from moving away.
Residents wondered if Alexan renters would put their children through the West Hempstead school system, causing overcrowding. D'Agostino said that was not likely. "Young couples usually move to houses when their children are school age," D'Agostino said. "Statistically, nationally, you don't find many children in a place like this."
With some residents strongly opposed and others supporting the idea, Norton said that the presence of a nationally known developer like Trammell-Crow would bring other economic opportunities to West Hempstead. It is, she said, "smart growth."
"I would never dream of endorsing [Trammell-Crow]... if I thought they would give us a shoddy product," she said.
Comments about this story? MSeaman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
