By VICTORIA A. CARUSO
The Nassau County Department of Public Works is planning a project that, if approved, would call for the redesign and reconstruction of City Avenue in Merrick. Described as a narrow, tree-lined street in the heart of the Old Lindenmere section of Merrick, City Avenue has become full of patched potholes and cracks.
City Avenue, which runs east-west between McCord and Merrick Avenues, was once owned by the New York City Water Company and used as an access road to the city's watershed property. During the 1940s, the watershed fell into disuse, and the road remained New York City property until late 1986, when it was sold to Nassau County for $1.
Over the years, the street has remained property of the Nassau County Department of Public Works, while the Town of Hempstead's Highway Department, which usually oversees side roads such as City Avenue, has supplied minimal maintenance for the street. Fifty years have passed since any major construction was done to City Avenue.
According to area residents, repairing City Avenue is long overdue. "The street has been broken, bumpy and full of potholes for as long as I have been living here," said Jim Evangeliou, a City Avenue resident for 12 years. "It keeps being patched up, but that only lasts a short period of time before it cracks again. The entire street needs to be done over, paved and leveled."
Ethel Doyle, a resident of Merrick for 45 years, said the something also needs to be done about the increased traffic along City Avenue. "When my husband and I moved here 45 years ago, City Avenue was a charming little road with plenty of trees, but this isn't the early 1900s anymore," said Ms. Doyle, whose Gregory Avenue home lies one block south of City Avenue. "Today, it is used far more than many of the other streets. The fire department, commuters, children walking to school, mothers with baby carriages, school buses and residents like me who need to get to their homes all go down City Avenue, and it is barely two cars wide."
The DPW is eyeing a major renovation project for City Avenue. In 1997, the DPW's request for redesign of City Avenue was submitted and approved by County Executive Thomas Gulotta (R-North Merrick). In 1998, the Nassau County Legislature approved $400,000 for City Avenue's redesign, which was to be carried out by Fay, Spofford & Thorndike of New York, Inc. (formerly Storch Engineers).
In 1999, however, the project was placed on hold owing to the County's fiscal crisis. In January this year, funding for the design phase of the project -- which includes preliminary plans and a detailed map of City Avenue -- were removed from the County's "frozen" list. Although funding for the estimated $3-million project has not yet been approved, the DPW has established an anticipated construction schedule.
Over the next two years, the DPW will submit a State Environment Quality Review (SEQR) application to the Nassau County Planning Commission and request construction funds from the County Executive. The Legislature, which is set to hear the request in June 2002, will then determine whether the project will be supported through a capital-improvement fund (included in the County's 2002 budget) or a bond issue. At that point, the DPW will open bids for construction contracts in November 2002 in order for construction to begin in April 2003.
At the same time, Nassau County is investigating its exact responsibility over City Avenue. In a memorandum dated March 21, 2000, John Waltz, the former DPW commissioner, said that the "City of New York leased land to the Town of Hempstead 'to be used for highway purposes'" and that the County assumes "the Town took over, or created, what is now called 'City Avenue.'"
According to Mr. Waltz, approval of such projects depends on results of an "investigation by the Bureau of Real Estate to research records of the City of New York Nassau County or [the] Town of Hempstead to determine whether the Town has an obligation to improve and maintain City Avenue..."
The memo also stated that the Town must have "permitted the development of adjoining properties" on City Avenue (today, more than a half a dozen homes front City Avenue) and paving of the road.
Michael McConnell, press secretary for the Town of Hempstead, said the Town has never had possession of City Avenue. "It went straight from the City to the County," said Mr. McConnell. "It is possible that in the future it would become a Town of Hempstead road, and that we would assume the maintenance and responsibilities." He added that the Town's responsibility over City Avenue would not be considered until the County has improved the road.
Should the County be deemed the sole party responsible for City Avenue, the "intent is for the County to improve City Avenue and then turn it over to the Town of Hempstead as a Town road," stated Mr. Waltz in the March 2000 memo.
According to Ms. Doyle, safety along City Avenue should be the first priority, not matter if the County or Town owns it. "Someone should be taking responsibility for this street," said Ms. Doyle. "There are potholes everywhere, and it is in horrendous condition. There is no reason this road should not be treated like any other road within the Town of Hempstead."
Although residents would like to see the road improved, they would like to see it remain as is: with no sidewalks and plenty of trees. "The street is full of potholes and desperately needs to be repaired," said Girard Place resident Dan LaRose in a previous Herald article. "But I was told that the plans include widening both sides of the street, cutting down trees and putting sidewalks. We don't want sidewalks. We don't want to lose our trees. We want to keep Merrick country."
Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick), who lives on McCord Avenue nearby, said developing this project to all parties' liking is no easy proposition.
In an effort to inform residents of the upcoming construction project, a public-information meeting regarding the redesign and construction of City Avenue is set for February 2001. At this time, residents will have the opportunity to look at proposed plans for the street, ask questions and discuss concerns.
City Avenue is also to be discussed at the Old Lindenmere Civic Association's next meeting. At this time, officials from the Department of Public Works and the engineering firm will be on hand. (At press time, a date for the meeting had not yet been set.)
For more information, call Joseph Kralovich, president of the Old Lindenmere Civic Association, at (516) 546-5632 or Legislator Denenberg at 571-6219.
