By Andrew Hackmack
Eleven private and public projects were recognized, with Hawthorne Court receiving the Compact Design award. The four-story building is being constructed on the east side of Cottage Avenue, on the site of the former In Flight Magazines building.
Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, said the project embodies the concept of smart growth. Hawthorne Court is just two blocks from the village's downtown shopping district and four blocks from the train station.
Alexander noted that the development will be a boost for that corner of the village. "They took a site that was really an eyesore, that wasn't functioning for the community," he said.
The condos are being built by the Dennis Organization. Vice President Maurice Fox said he believes this project will be good for the village. "Our business is in Valley Stream," he said. "We want to see what's right for the community."
Mayor Ed Cahill said this is a unique project in Valley Stream. There are a few smaller condo developments in the Gibson section, but nothing of this magnitude. According to Cahill, the Hawthorne Court project will also benefit the downtown area. "We were looking for something like this to come in," he said. "Something that would really add to the avenue."
Hawthorne Court will have 37 one-bedroom condos starting at $299,000 and 53 two-bedroom units, starting at $395,000. There will be 138 underground parking spaces, a 14,500-square-foot courtyard, a fitness center, a residents' club and a 24-hour doorman. The largest units will measure almost 1,400 square feet, which Fox said is larger than the typical one-family house in Valley Stream.
Fox noted that one challenge the developer faced was the nearby train line: The West Hempstead Branch of the Long Island Rail Road runs along the rear of the property. The building was designed so none of the units will face the tracks. "The train is totally taken out of the picture," Fox said.
The first model units are expected to open this weekend. Fox said that one fully furnished condo of each configuration will be available for walk-throughs for those considering moving to Hawthorne Court. About one-third of the units have already been sold. "And that's without having a model," Fox said.
Dennis Organization President Rick Dennis said that the project is about six to eight weeks behind schedule, and that weather has played a role in the delay. The building is about 70 percent complete, Dennis said, and is expected to be finished by January.
The village has been extremely cooperative throughout the development process, Hawthorne Court officials noted. The village board approved a special-use zone to allow construction of the building. Normal residential zoning in Valley Stream requires 60- by 100-foot lots, meaning that the company would have been able to build a maximum of only 10 single-family homes. "Economically, it wouldn't have made sense," Fox said.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer spoke at the awards ceremony, and talked about how "smart growth" is the future of Long Island. He encouraged municipalities to take advantage of Community Development Block Grants provided by the federal government for downtown rehabilitation and urban planning projects. Schumer said there is bipartisan support in Congress for raising the level of funding available for the program.
Valley Stream already takes advantage of the block grant funding for its annual Streetscape program, which focuses on improving the appearance of its commercial districts (see related story, page 19). Village officials are also planning a downtown revitalization project.
Hawthorne Court will be a vital piece of the project, Fox said, explaining that he expects condo buyers to be first-time homeowners and empty-nesters who will look for dining and shopping within walking distance. "The merchants there are going to need a captive audience," he said, adding that projects such as Hawthorne Court will provide it.
The Compact Design award recognizes a project that provides an alternative to conventional sprawl development by making maximum use of resources, preserving open space and choosing a location close to public transportation.
Alexander said that after a panel of judges toured the Hawthorne Court site and reviewed the marketing plan, it was very obvious that the project was deserving of recognition. "We were very impressed," he said. "They have some interesting ways in which they made their design more efficient."
Comments about this story? AHackmack@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
