By:Nick Buglione
The Victorian-style condominiums would be built in three separate complexes on the roughly 1.5-acre lot, which is on the east side of Carman Avenue, just across from Melody Lane.
The units would be roughly 1,250 square feet and include two bedrooms, 1 _ bathrooms, a living room, dining room and kitchen. They would likely sell for approximately $350,000.
Residents opposed to the plan cite parking and traffic issues, as well as fear that building such structures will only open the door for similar projects along Carman Avenue in the future. Those in favor, however, counter that the current lot is a rat-infested eyesore desperately in need of attention.
"I have a good reputation and I take a lot of pride in what I do," said Martin Scro, president of MDS Enterprises, Inc., at a Community Association of Stewart Avenue civic meeting Nov. 1 inside Bowling Green Elementary School.
Scro was called to the meeting, which was heavily attended, to explain his proposal and answer questions from the community.
He said that similar condominiums were built on Wantagh Avenue in Wantagh and the community welcomed the project "with open arms."
Before he can begin constructing these condominiums, the Hempstead Town Board must first vote to change the area's zoning to allow for such structures to be built.
Some residents are leery of a zoning change. "There are other areas along Carman Avenue that can also be purchased by a developer," said Lorri Bauer, a resident who lives on Choir Lane. "If this condominium project gets rezoned, then it opens the door for more rezoning, which will negatively impact our community. Our community wants to remain a single-family housing community."
Bauer and other residents also fear that cars traveling in and out of the complexes would only exacerbate an already existent traffic problem on Carman Avenue.
"Frequent accidents occur on Carman Avenue because of heavy traffic flow at critical areas," Bauer said. "Carman Avenue is already overwhelmed by the cars from the Barnes and Noble building, family court traffic, visitors to the Nassau County jail, and the cars traveling to the Century 21 shopping mall. The street can't safely handle any more traffic."
Helen Meittinis, president of the Community Association of Stewart Avenue, concurred. "He's a reputable builder and he does good projects, I don't dispute that," she said. "But we do have a traffic problem on Carman Avenue."
Scro said his company has hired a consultant to study how the condominiums would impact traffic. "There will probably be less traffic with my development then what's coming out of it now," Scro said, noting that the complexes would have two "ingresses and egresses."
A barn, garage and two existing dwellings are currently situated on the property, Scro said. "There are several ongoing businesses on the property," he said. Contractors also use the lot to park commercial vehicles.
Eleven houses abut the property and many of those homeowners are fed up with the condition it's in. Jerome Smith, who's owned a home on Friends Lane for 37 years, said up to 50 trucks and cars are parked in the lot on any given day. "The people are slobs," he said. "When they get out of their vehicles at the end of the night, the first thing they do is urinate."
Some even defecate, Smith claims. Given the condition of the lot, he thinks building condominiums is a good idea. "They're worried about a little traffic," Smith said. "I'm worried about a lot more than that. I couldn't sell my house if I tried."
Scro said that 10 of the 11 people who own homes abutting the property have signed a petition in support of the plan.
Still, residents on surrounding streets worry they'll see an influx of parked cars once the condominiums are built.
Chris Coschignano, the attorney representing MDS Enterprises, said 42 parking spots are included in the plan, one more than is required by the Town of Hempstead.
The Hempstead Town Board will discuss rezoning the Carman Avenue property at a public hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 10:30 a.m. in Hempstead Town Hall.
If the board votes in favor of the rezoning, construction could begin next fall and would be completed about a year later, Coschignano said.
