By MIKE CAPUTO
Progress House, a community mental health center operated by the New York State Office of Mental Health and Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, has yearned for an expansion for several years, dating back to its failed attempt in 2002. According to Sara Kalvin, a spokeswoman for Pilgrim, the initial plan in 2002 would have renovated the current site in Levittown into a newly designed center that included new program rooms for additional educational and vocational services.
That plan was vehemently opposed by Levittown civic leaders, and was not approved by the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals. Since then, the Office of Mental Health has been looking for an alternate location for Progress House's newly expanded center, while providing its array of services at the best cost, Kalvin said.
Progress House's latest application with the Town of Hempstead is a request for a special exemption to move into a new center in a commercially zoned area at 2575 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow. The property, which is adjacent to the Wantagh State Parkway, is the former site of Pep Boys and currently houses several retail tenants.
Like the initial proposal in Levittown back in 2002, the current plan has not garnered support from East Meadow community leaders. In fact, several community leaders held an emergency meeting on Aug. 27, and agreed to oppose the project.
Some leaders asked the applicants to withdraw their application from the town zoning board. A petition opposing the project has circulated around the community. If the application is not withdrawn, a number of community opponents plan on attending the zoning board hearing on the proposal, which is set for Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. in Hempstead Town Hall. The hearing on Sept. 17 was scheduled as a result of an adjournment from its original date on Aug. 13.
East Meadow community leaders have said the Progress House would not be a good fit for that particular area on Hempstead Turnpike, which is a budding retail strip with a nearby residential neighborhood.
People who attend the Progress House are Nassau County residents who live locally, and attend programs at the community health center. Despite opposition to Progress House's plans to expand in Levittown and to East Meadow, a statement released by the clinic explained that its programs have been well-supported.
"For 25 years, the program and clients have received ongoing support from members of this community including businesses, religious organizations and private citizens," the Progress House statement said.
The written statement also briefly outlined some of the services that it offers to it clients, who receive mental health counseling from psychiatrists, nurses, social workers and psychologists. Some doctors write out prescriptions for the patients, who take them back to their pharmacies, the statement said.
The program also offers rehabilitation services that are primarily focused on educational and job skills, which have aided many clients in moving on by obtaining new jobs, starting families, and participating in the community.
"Our job skills programs in food service, housekeeping, janitorial, clerical, retail and landscaping skills have enabled folks to obtain employment and remain contributing members of their communities," the statement said.
Kalvin emphasized that Progress House is not a substance abuse treatment center, and that methadone is not given at the facility. Currently, East Meadow hosts about a dozen group homes and the Nassau University Medical Center, which offers mental health services.
Both sides meet
Community Leader Rich Bivone held a private meeting last week with representatives of the applicants and the Office of Mental Health. Bivone explained how the representatives may now have a better understanding of the perspective of the community leaders in opposition of the plan.
"The state representative realized that we were very sensitive to what was going on in the proposal and that we truly were trying to help them but no matter what they tried to do that this wasn't going to fly," Bivone said.
According to Bivone, East Meadow community leaders are asking local elected officials on the state level to speak with the state mental health commissioner and urge him to immediately pull the application and seek other alternatives.
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
