By Rachel Kalina
So it came as a shock to Nunez when he learned that plans are underway to redevelop this stretch of Grand Avenue in the hopes of attracting large chain stores and "high-end" retail shops.
Nunez is one of a number of shops and businesses slated to be condemned by the Town of Hempstead, as the town moves to acquire the property through eminent domain.
Nunez and several other store owners said they are still unaware about what is exactly happening here, and how the project will impact them. "This is my life," Nunez said. "This is my future."
The town announced its plans for eminent domain earlier this year, and currently, is still in the process of attracting developers to the area. Ultimately, they hope to spur economic development and attract outside shoppers to spend money in Baldwin and specifically rejuvenate the area along Grand Avenue and Merrick Road.
At a meeting led by Town Councilman Anthony Santino on Nov. 27 [See story, page...], he mentioned that residents living in the area would be assisted in moving out of the area in addition to future rent assistance and relocation.
The town maintains that assisting tenants and business owners is a priority, and has been updating residents about the project through town meetings and other venues. One source said that the town would begin to notify tenants and business owners shortly after New Year's. Trenkle said that once the request for proposals to developers, or RFP, are completed, the town would begin to notify tenants and businesses. Ultimately, a developer must be chosen for the project and the town board has to adopt a plan for urban renewal.
'With regard to how we are alerting store owners, at this point there is nothing official until an urban renewal plan is adopted and the RFPs are done," Trenkle said. "There's nothing to notify them about. Officially, we cannot do anything until the plan is adopted."
Despite confusion among store owners, the town claims they have been providing updates on the project.
"Our Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development does meet with the Chamber of Commerce on a monthly basis to keep them updated," said spokeswoman Susan Trenkle. Trenkle explained that businesses would be assisted in finding a new location in addition to financial aid. One thing is for sure: all of the businesses on Grand Avenue, south of the firehouse, and some on Merrick Road, will go to make way for the project.
"At this point everything in that study area, with the exception of [Fullerton] Funeral Home, are not part of the redevelopment," said Trenkle.
However, a few store owners claim that even at this point in the development stage, they don't know if they will be allowed to stay in the area or be forced to leave.
"It's not easy to relocate the store," Nunez said of his deli and market, pointing out that even if the town were to aid him with switching to a new part of Baldwin, it would take a lot of time and money. He cited a $15,000 investment and the many permits that went into his current kitchen as just a few of the elements necessary to upkeep his business.
Still other owners said that even if they were given the choice to relocate within Baldwin, they don't think it would be worth it.
"If I have to move, I'm not going to move to another part of Baldwin," said Dan Halder, owner of Grand Fitness. "The town has been saying they will offer space to business owners -- where would we go in the time it's all knocked down?"
Halder's business, where he offers personal training and said he has been doing well with his number of clients, has been open since September. At that point, he said, he had heard about the project but he wasn't concerned.
"I have a hard time believing they'll go through with it," he said, adding that the plan seemed not only impractical but it would entail lawsuits against the town by the building owners and some tenants.
The town, after it acquires the property, will offer business owners the fair market value for their business. If a store owner believes that he is not being compensated fairly, the issue would then be contested in State Supreme Court.
Halder said that even now, he doesn't know how he would be compensated. Considering the success of his business and that of Nunez, he said he has been doing decently enough in Baldwin and would like stay.
He pointed out that there are many "layers" to the eminent domain situation, and he heard that one landlord in particular did not want to invest money in new facades or other aesthetic improvements to attract shoppers to Grand Avenue previous to redevelopment plans.
He thinks this may have helped to bring in new business, because the other side of Grand Avenue has done so and is thriving, he said, whereas his side of the street is considered "hopeless."
Jose Sevulveda realized the conditions of the stores surrounding his Mini Super Deli when he moved onto Grand Avenue seven weeks ago, but he had no idea that redevelopment plans were even in the works.
He said his landlord and the town did not give him notice that he was moving into an area that is slated to be condemned in the coming year -- leaving him without a business in Baldwin. Sevulveda said he would leave Baldwin if it came to that.
Even so, he said he does recognize the need for an improvement to the area.
"All these buildings are too old," he said. "They should do something, it's a main street in Baldwin."
Comments about this story? Baldwineditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.
