By Rachel Kalina
At a town meeting at Baldwin Middle School last week, Town Councilman Anthony J. Santino explained that the town hopes taxpayers will not have to foot the bill for the project, saying that potential developers would ultimately bear the cost of building new stores along Grand Avenue and Merrick Road.
About 60 people showed up at the town meeting Nov. 27, where they had a chance to provide input and to hear from town officials, and the downtown project was perhaps the most talked about subject.
The town's revitalization plan was announced earlier this year, and officials are currently in the process of soliciting developers for the project and creating a vision for the area. Santino said he hopes to have an idea of that vision -- and what the area will look like -- by February.
The $20 million is an early estimate, a town spokesperson said, and does not include appraisals of the property or construction costs.
A large retail chains like the Gap and Old Navy would be an ideal attraction for the town, Santino said, adding that another CVS or grocery store in the area would not have as much of an impact on Baldwin's economy as would other well-known businesses like Barnes & Noble or Bed, Bath & Beyond. "Everyone knows those stores will provide first-class shopping for downtown Baldwin and induce other thriving stores to locate in Baldwin," Santino said, adding that people would come from surrounding towns to shop at such places. In turn, he said, the project would be a boon for smaller businesses in town, since shoppers would be attracted to the area after they shopped in one of the new stores on Grand Avenue.
Although other topics pertinent to Baldwin were covered at the meeting, it was one forum among many in the past year that Santino has used to update residents about the project. "This is the most important project my office is currently working on," said Charles Theofan, commissioner of the town's department of Planning and Economic Development.
Theofan said that many of the stores along Grand Avenue are vacant. The town released a blight study in February determining how would have to be done for the area to thrive. The blighted area stretches from the western side of Grand Avenue, south of Prospect Street, to Gale Avenue off Merrick Road.
Theofan said that fixing the buildings' facades would not be enough to attract shoppers and revitalize Baldwin's commercial base. As of now, according to the town, there are about 10 developers looking at the properties.
Still, town officials said they hope to have the project completed in roughly two years. "We are doing it as quickly as we can, because we know some of the store owners are suffering," Theofan said.
Another point addressed not only by Santino but also by a community member who spoke at the meeting was the status of Nunley's Carousel. Currently, Nassau County Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) is working to get the carousel restored and returned to Baldwin. Santino made it clear that the town would appreciate the carousel's being part of the revitalization project, but only if a developer would be willing to include it in its plans -- and pay for it.
"If it is economically feasible to do, the town is very much interested in siting the carousel on this property," Santino said. He added that, otherwise, he did not want Baldwin residents to pay any additional taxes for it.
Some residents, Santino said, are concerned that if the area to be revitalized is condemned, segments of the population would be pushed out of town. Santino called this theory a myth, and said, "Nothing could be further from the truth." In fact, he said, the town would help relocate those who wanted to leave the area or the village, and even provide rent assistance.
Residents who spoke at the meeting expressed concern that the town was concentrating on a very specific part of Baldwin and not focusing on other places that could use revitalizing, such as the area on Grand Avenue just north of Sunrise Highway. Errington Hibbert was particularly concerned with that area, and asked Santino how to help the community force out unwanted businesses, like Gentleman's Quarters, a strip club.
Santino said that the town cannot just get rid of a business, and that the concept of eminent domain, which will allow the town to condemn properties downtown, wouldn't be applicable to a business just because the community dislikes it. "It's a legal business," he said of GQ. "We can't run a business out of town simply because you don't like it."
Santino added that if any business is violating town code, however, it should be reported, and then action can be taken. First Precinct police have said that GQ does not cause problems, and there have been no major incidents there aside from a shooting in March, in which no one was injured.
Hibbert and another resident expressed frustration with the parking situation at Baldwin's LIRR station, where the town owns two lots. Residents can park in this area, but others who live in the Town of Hempstead cannot. There are other lots, however, designated for the town, whose use is not limited to Baldwin residents.
One resident argued that the lots designated for Baldwin use are not being monitored, leaving commuters without parking in the morning. "I'm sorry to hear there is not enforcement by the 1st Precinct," Santino said. "The police department is stretched thin, and I guess enforcing that hasn't been a priority, and I can understand that."
He said he would contact the precinct and ask it to follow up on the matter, but reiterated that there just are not enough officers for the precinct to constantly be on top of the issue.
Hibbert asked if it would be possible to purchase parking spaces owned by the MTA in order to increase the number of spots for Baldwin residents. Santino said the cost of acquiring them from the MTA would affect not only commuters but other taxpayers as well, and that even if people would be willing to pay more for permits for these spots, the MTA would probably not even consider selling them.
Some residents also took issue with what they believe is an inadequate number of police officers in Baldwin. One resident said there was a need for more enforcement on Milburn Avenue, where cars have a tendency to speed. This earned him a round of applause, and he said that another stop sign would not help the problem, because drivers ignore them.
"We have a great police department," Santino responded, "and there are simply not enough officers. They'll be good about [enforcement on Milburn] for a day or two, but then go elsewhere."
Comments about this story? RKalina@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
