By Scott Brinton
Bellmore Village along Bedford Avenue stands as a model of revitalization, with new red-brick sidewalks, wrought-iron benches, sculpted lampposts and a dozen antique storefronts, with five more on the way this spring. Everything about the Village invites shoppers into this quieter, simpler downtown.
That is exactly how Bellmore Chamber of Commerce officials envisioned it. The estimated $3-million restoration was paid for with town, county and state grants, as well as private funds.
Now, the Village's phenomenal comeback (shop vacancy rates have dropped from 35 percent to zero percent in five years) has merchants in other parts of the Bellmores wondering: What about us?
Janice Kugler, owner of A Family Affair Deli at Bellmore Avenue and Newbridge Road in North Bellmore, said, "Down by the train station on Bedford Avenue, they did such an incredible job. But that's not all of Bellmore. That's just one spot. They should do something for us up here also."
Kugler and other North Bellmore business owners might just get their long-standing wish to bring downtown revitalization to their own territory. This week, county Legis. Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) said she has had plans drawn up for a street-beautification project in the vicinity of Kugler's deli.
"It may not be Bedford Avenue in Bellmore Village," Gonsalves said. "We've come up with some ideas, and it's being reviewed. We're looking at Newbridge Road and Bellmore Avenue. There would be some continuity there."
Gonsalves said the project would bring new street lamps and trees to the area, perhaps even brick pavers along the sidewalks. Monies for the restoration would come from the county's Operation Downtown program, though Legis. Gonsalves gave no cost estimates for the planned revitalization.
"If we can get some other grants for North Bellmore, it would be great," she added.
Reaction from Bellmore Chamber officials to the proposed restoration has been positive. Robin Karp, the organization's consulting executive director, said, "We are absolutely thrilled that the revitalization efforts are going to be spread to the North Bellmore area. There are some real concrete plans in place."
Karp said that chamber Co-President Paul Paretta and she have worked closely with Gonsalves recently in developing plans for a North Bellmore revitalization.
Gonsalves gave no timetable as to when the beautification project might begin. "I'm hoping it won't be too long," she said.
So is Kugler, who said any type of restoration would help businesses along Newbridge Road in North Bellmore. "There is an extreme need for it -- extreme. The streets look horrible," said Kugler, who also lives in North Bellmore. "This whole area, between the streets, the sidewalks, the storefronts.
"The street signs, you can't read them. The streets are always dirty. There are rocks from the potholes. It's not a place where you want to pay $7,000 in taxes to live."
Karp, who is also legislative aide to the Hempstead Town Council, said that revitalization "definitely makes a huge difference. Perception is everything. Cracked sidewalks, no trees, it does not make it an attractive area to shop. Revitalization changes the entire outlook, the entire perception of a shopping center."
Karl Kopecky, who owns the Nassau Gymnastics Center on Newbridge Road, said revitalization for North Bellmore's business district would be nice. The area, however, has more immediate concerns, he said.
The county is planning to repave the section of Newbridge Road in front of his business this spring. That prospect has him concerned.
The county redid Newbridge from Grand Avenue to Bellmore Avenue last year. In doing so, it had to close sections of the north-south thoroughfare, shutting off patrons from many of the small businesses along the road. "The contractor did a horrible job," said Kopecky. "They were there so long that they actually hurt the businesses."
More problematic for Kopecky, though, is the probability that the county will usurp about one-third of his front parking lot when it widens Newbridge Road to add turning lanes. "We don't need turning lanes here," he said.
Kopecky had heard that lanes were being added to provide better access for the fire department when it speeds up and down Newbridge during emergencies. That, he said, is a "legitimate" reason to widen the street.
Still, Kopecky said, "If they just repaved the road and left it as is and put in a new sewer-drainage system [to prevent flooding], I think that would be sufficient."
