By: Jason Scheer
Nassau County's economy is in a constant state of change. For much of the county's early history, it was mostly suburban, residential sprawl, and residents traveled into Manhattan to conduct business. Eventually, mom-and-pop businesses found their way to the suburbs and created an identity all their own. Then, in the 1980s, those stores gave way to "big box" superstores, which have thrived in the area. Now, the county's financial identity is once again at a crossroads.
In an effort to ensure that the county goes down the right road, the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, which represents more than 50 organizations throughout the county, held a "growth work session" on Sept. 15. More than 75 village representatives, chamber leaders and other community activists gathered, all eager to weigh in and learn more about the group's vision for the economic future.
According to Richard Bivone, president of the NCCC, the main focus of the session was to further discuss on the development of the proposed "Nassau hub" and to guarantee that the area is created and managed effectively.
"We intend to succeed with [the hub's] implementation, to see that the money is spent wisely, on something [people] will use," Bivone said. "When the development is completed, it must have a positive impact on the surrounding communities."
No timetable has been set for development of the area, which, according to the Nassau County Office of Development, includes the EAB Plaza, Nassau Coliseum, Eisenhower Park and the Source Mall to the north. The area encompasses Nassau Community College, Hofstra University and Roosevelt Field, and stretches as far west as the Nassau County government offices in Mineola. Hempstead Village and Mineola, with their Long Island Rail Road lines, are also important parts of the Nassau hub.
"We must take into account its effect on local downtown areas," explained Bivone. He warned that if the hub draws too many people away from their neighborhood shopping locales, the economy of the entire county will suffer. "Small businesses are the economic engine that drives the county, and with the increase in taxes, services, goods and insurance, it is very hard to be competitive."
Eric Alexander, a representative of the "smart growth" group Vision Long Island, joined Bivone in detailing the needs of the county. He said that the county needs to take a holistic view of itself and come up with an executable plan in order to maintain its position as a viable location for business.
Alexander said that in order to attain such a goal, county officials must expand the breadth of their planning studies. He specifically pointed to a 1998 study of the hub, which considered the effects of its development only on towns in the immediate vicinity, and did not take into account concerns of local governments and residents.
Eventually, this maligned study resulted in a public hearing filled with shouting, accusations and, not surprisingly, no tangible results. "It was probably among the top five worst public hearings I've ever seen in my life, and it killed the project," Alexander said. "What we are trying to do [here today] is stop [ineffectiveness]. We are trying to get actively involved early on and [bring people's issues to the forefront.]"
In June 2003, the county tried once again to undertake a planning study of the hub. Though the study looked at a larger geographical area, Alexander said it had its shortcomings. "There's no analysis of different transportation methodologies at all," he said. "There's no economic analysis done to determine what impact future development in the hub area would have, and how it impacts different downtowns."
Alexander also made it clear that the hub project would have a profound influence on everyone in Nassau County, whether or not they work there. "If they're a small-business owner, they're concerned about the future of their business," he said. "If they're commuting to work, depending on how they're commuting, they're concerned about their future quality of life, and asking, are they going to be stuck in traffic forever?"
These issues and others must be addressed before the county can move forward. Bivone says the first step in solving these issues is to make sure "everyone is on the same page."
"If we don't work together as a team, then we will fail," he said. "We need to focus on building a foundation, so that at the end of the day, we're doing this for now, we're doing this for the future, and we're doing this for our kids."
A better way
Alexander said that Nassau County faces the very real possibility of becoming economically undesirable if it does not formulate a viable plan for the future. "Nassau County is a real mess right now," he said.
During the work session, he outlined a smart-growth formula for the area's success. First and foremost, Alexander said, the county needs to come together in order to stop the rampant urban sprawl that has led to poor development and overdevelopment, which has affected the environment. He said that both commercial and residential products must be both aesthetically pleasing and economically efficient. The county should move away from single-use commercial strips and toward the creation of developments with a number of purposes.
A key element of a smart-growth plan is the integration of an environmentally friendly and financially viable transportation system. Alexander stressed that such a system, whether it be a light rail, a series of trolleys or another mode of transportation, should not be concentrated only in the hub. Instead, he said, it must connect the hub to other areas of the county. Also, according to Alexander, before any transportation system is agreed on, the county should consult local municipalities in order to avoid land misuse and contentious relationships in the future.
