By: Esther McKenna and Jason Scheer
The plan proposes new highway and bus-to-rail systems and a commercial center balanced with a zoo and nature preserve.
The Hub habitat
The Nassau Hub is an area that stretches from EAB Plaza, Nassau Coliseum and Eisenhower Park north to the Source Mall. It encompasses Nassau Community College, Hofstra and Roosevelt Field and ranges as far west as the Nassau County government buildings in Mineola.
The proposal was created by the county executive to alleviate heavy traffic, make better use of space and create much-needed revenue.
Blueprint for EAB plaza
Suozzi's plan proposes lowering Hempstead Turnpike in the area around EAB Plaza and creating a transportation system above it. Suozzi claims that depressing the turnpike several levels underground will allow for room to build an additional central business district that will, in turn, create new commercial property tax revenues.
New tax revenues are critical, Suozzi explained, because the county is stretched to the limit. With open spaces at a premium and land scarce, there are no new properties being developed, and thus no new income flowing in. The lack of new properties means that increases in spending have to be offset by rising property taxes.
He explained, "The real problem that needs to be addressed here is lack of growth. Our school, town, village and county government expenses continue to grow, but there is no corresponding growth in the property-tax base. The result is, and has been, an increase in property taxes."
Making the connection
Suozzi's plan hinges on connecting areas within the Hub. He said the sites, despite their proximity, are disjointed, with office buildings next to fields next to shopping malls. All of these, he said, are disconnected by a sea of traffic and parking lots. "There is no connection between the significant [entities] that exist here," he said.
The plan for what Suozzi terms the "Nassau Centre" includes the formation of a transportation system that connects the existing Long Island Rail Road line in Mineola to the Hub area. The county is currently exploring three modes of transportation to fill this need.
The first is a rapid-transit bus using dedicated lanes. The county executive said the initial costs of implementing this system would be low, but maintenance and operation costs would be very high. In addition, he acknowledged that a bus system is "not something people in suburbia find attractive."
The second alternative would be a light-rail system with a track designed for quicker, lighter trains. The third option, a monorail system, would be very costly initially but have low upkeep and operating costs, according to Suozzi. He admits, however, that a monorail system would require a tremendous amount of land.
Regarding the issue of costs of a transportation overhaul in the area, county Legislator Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin) suggests pressuring the state and federal governments for funding when the need for financing arises. "We pay more than $6 billion in state and federal tax monies every year," Scannell said. "We need to get more of that back." Failing state and federal assistance, Scannell suggested offering a county bond to offset costs.
The county has acquired $2.7 million in federal grants to study transportation alternatives and conduct an environmental impact report.
In addition to the new business district, Suozzi's vision for a new suburbia includes the creation of a zoo in Eisenhower Park and a nature preserve in Hempstead Village.
Suozzi said that last week's presentation was "just the start of discussions" regarding the Hub revitalization, and that the completion of any plans could take decades. The important step, he said, was to get a dialogue started and to generate ideas. "Today we begin to try and build a consensus on where we want to go as a community," said Suozzi. "Once we agree on that vision, we will invest our efforts in trying to get there."
Representatives weigh in
Richard Bivone, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, a group representing a majority of the chambers in Nassau County, said that whether or not you agree with the individual aspects of Suozzi's plan, it is good to see the issue being addressed publicly. "[The presentation of this plan] is a major leap forward," he said.
Members of the Nassau County Legislature were positive, yet apprehensive about the plan. Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside) called it an "ambitious" one with "room for discussion," but said he was pleased that the issue is being addressed. "I think everyone agrees that [we need to] spur new development and new revenues," said Toback. "This plan [offers] what that area of the county seems to be crying out for."
Scannell applauded the plan. "We're at a crossroads here in Nassau County, and [the plan] creates a win-win situation in answer to many of our problems," he said. "Lowering the turnpike and adding additional venues for cars will move traffic through the area, alleviating traffic problems. At the same time, we'd be adding commercial properties and increasing revenues."
Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach) agreed on the need to revitalize the area and increase revenues in the county, but reserved judgment of Suozzi's plan until the transportation and environmental studies were complete.
Toback said the plan could come to fruition if the county executive's "vision" is received with the cooperation it deserves. "Any grand-scale development, especially one that is so central to Long Island's redevelopment, is going to take cooperation from the private sector and all levels of government," he said. "Working out a plan is always the hard part."
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