By KAREN RICE
The site, owned by Dome Realty in Freeport, was occupied by a Chinese restaurant that has been out of business for about six years. The village, which gained zoning rights in November, is in the process of changing the property's zoning from commercial to residential to help the property get developed, because the current owner could not find anyone to buy it as a commercial parcel, village officials said.
We are looking to encourage the beautification of the property, said Atlantic Beach Mayor Stephen Mahler. We are selling the property to accommodate whoever was going to develop that property nicely within village guidelines.
The village invited Edas Babusis and Denise Bradley, architects of CAVA Construction, the company purchasing the property from Dome Realty, to present their plans for five townhouses, each measuring 2,500 square feet. They displayed a small scale model and several drawings to help residents visualize the proposed houses. They also answered a number of residents' questions about the project.
Each single-family home would have cathedral ceilings, three bedrooms, a terrace and two parking spaces, and there would be a communal lap pool. Three houses would be on one side of a private gated road and two on the other side.
The future owners would be responsible for the townhouses' upkeep and maintenance, Babusis said. He added that the units would sell at market value, estimating that they would be worth about $1 million each. The village would also sell a small piece of property on one side of the project. The contract for the five townhouses is nearly finalized.
Some residents voiced their fear that the houses would bring down the value of the surrounding homes, and asked if they could purchase the property for their own use. But Mahler said he wanted to have the property developed in a way that would benefit the most residents.
Mahler disagreed, saying that the proposed houses would be a major improvement to the area. Undermine it? he asked one resident who questioned the need for the townhouses. Would you like another Chinese restaurant? I really don't see how this will decrease anyone's property values.
Mahler added that the village was only willing to consider approving a proposal that would benefit the entire village and not just one residence. It's to your great benefit to have a beautiful development there instead of leaving it fallow, he told residents. It will upscale all of Albany Boulevard.
Another resident was concerned that the future occupants of the homes might have a different tax rate than current residents. Mahler explained that everyone would pay the same tax rate, and that five houses bring in more taxes than just one. We intend to stabilize your taxes with [the additional revenue], he said.
Bradley said that, overall, the presentation was a good step and that all the residents had legitimate concerns that were worth addressing.
Babusis was pleased that so many residents came out because it showed that people are interested in what's happening.
There will be a public hearing on the new zoning on Feb. 24.
