By Cris Italia
Blue Island Development purchased the land in July of 2000 and is currently waiting for a variance meeting with the Town of Hempstead. We want to get this project going, we are ready to start, but we have to get clearance, said Michael Posillico, president of the Blue Island Devopment, LLC. To begin construction, the Town of Hempstead would have to change the zone from an industrial zoning area to a residential zone. Posillico added that a massive demolition and removal would have to be conducted and the building of the units would not begin until after Labor Day of 2003.
In 1989, after 50 years of business, Cibro declared bankruptcy and searched for any takers for their land. Without enough cash, Cibro was excluded from cleaning up the polluted lot it long occupied, a task that would have to become the responsibility of a new land owner.
Before any potential buyer even considered buying the site, Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino suggested at a Town Hall meeting that members of the Island Park community should form a committee to discuss what could be and would be done. At first members expected the worst. The Town of Hempstead had said that as many as 220 condominium units could be put at the site, some even considered to be part of a low income housing program.
We just considered the worst possible scenario, said Anthony Marino, a former member of the committee. We just discussed the impact it would have on the area.
After months without a buyer willing to take a chance, Blue Island Development headed by Posillico of JD Posillico Inc., bought the "Oil City" land in July, 2000. The new owners sent a packet out to Island Park residents explaining their plans for the site and stated that community involvement would be essential.
We were relieved, said Marino, after learning the plans included only 94 condominium units instead of the 220 that were feared. They were willing to clean up the land and listen to the community. For most of the residents this was acceptable, but others were still upset with the number of units set to come in.
The town was split, said Posillico. There was about 80 percent of the people supporting the site.
Marino had given up hopes on compromising with disgruntled members of the committee. The number of units was set at 94, less then the committee had originally expected. Posillico saw this as a reasonable number and was unwilling to move, but would accept ideas that would make the project more appealing to it
