By Karenlyn Barone
The first open forum, last Wednesday evening at St. James Episcopal Church, had resident raising not only questions, but their voices as well. Builder/developer/operator/owner Lee Browning Sr. held a public meeting to discuss his plan to build a Marriott Courtyard, a Hilton Homewood Suites and two tiered parking facilities in downtown Lynbrook. In response, several residents discussed their desire to send Browning on his merry way.
Browning's informal proposal includes, in phase I, a three-story parking facility on what is now Village Parking Field No. 3, at Langdon Place and Broadway. Phase II calls for the construction of a five-story Hilton Homewood Suites at the corner of Earle Avenue and St. James Place, in village parking lot No. 8. The all-suite configuration would have a three-story parking facility with rooftop parking, and both the ground- and second-level parking would be reserved exclusively for the local community.
Phase III calls for a Courtyard by Marriott, a five-story, 150-room hotel at the corner of Stauderman and Forest avenues, directly behind the stores on the east side of Atlantic Avenue. The structure would have two floors for parking and three floors of hotel space.
At the public meeting, Browning reaffirmed his commitment to making the project acceptable to residents by adapting and adjusting his plans as necessary.
In fact, the original plans called for the two hotels to be built directly across from St. James Church. "When the church voiced opposition, Marriott told me not to disturb the church," explained Browning. "We threw those plans away and started again. We were asked to make the project smaller, and we did. I understand the opposition some people have, and whatever we can do to try and make this happen, we will do."
Voices of opposition
The first to speak, even before the floor was open for questions, was Lynbrook Village Trustee Bill Hendrick. "Progress, yes! Taxes go up too much, yes!" said Hendrick. "But to allow two hotels and parking garages to come in? I don't want you to build it, and I will spend the next two years making sure this project goes nowhere."
Hendrick referred to Browning's proposal as "putting 10 pounds of sausage in a two-pound sack."
Concerns voiced by the more than 130 residents in the standing-room-only meeting included fire safety, traffic congestion and the dangers tiered parking facilities might bring to the village.
In a statement that she said represented Lynbrook seniors, who meet at the recreation center each week, Constance Howard wrote, "We are very opposed. We do not want to move the village into the city-fied mode."
Many residents were concerned that Lynbrook Mayor Eugene Scarpato had enticed Browning to the village, or that local businesses stood to make a profit if the project went through. Browning said he initially came to the Lynbrook area when his son was negotiating to buy the Holiday Inn in Rockville Centre. His son eventually lost out to Best Western, but Browning liked the area so much that he decided to hire a firm to find him property to build on. He paid for a report on an 18-mile radius before he set his sights on Lynbrook.
Browning said he initially solicited 70 real estate agents through the Internet. He explained that the agent he used was American Commercial Real Estate, based in Woodbury, and that, to date, he had not paid a commission, but, he said, "Eventually, someone will be paid."
Some who attended the meeting said they were there primarily to gather information. "This gentleman came to make a presentation," said longtime resident David DiMattina. "It behooves us to listen. It's too bad some people came here with preconceived notions."
That prompted Browning to take an informal vote. Around half of the audience raised hands to admit they had already formed opinions, while a little less than half said they were open to listen, and two residents raised their hands in a show of full support for Browning.
Days before the meeting, fliers saying, "Stop the hotels!" signed by the Reform Party, had been distributed throughout the village. "I understand emotions are involved in this," said Browning. "If you're not interested, I'll respect that."
Emotions did run high at the meeting, especially when former Village Trustee J. Kevin Kelly made reference to Browning's parking facility by asking, "How are you going to secure your twin towers?"
Browning refused "to dignify the question with an answer," and residents commented that it was a low point in an evening whose purpose was to offer information.
After the presentation, village Trustee Rich Clifford said that he was there to "feel the pulse of the community and to gain insight into their mindset. My decision will be based on the will of the people. The only disappointing part of the evening was Kelly's remark ... which I found extremely insensitive, not to mention unprofessional, coming from a former elected official."
Express checkout
The following evening, about 85 residents gathered at the Knights of Colombus Hall to hear developer/builder Robert Hoberman's proposal for a Holiday Inn Express at the corner of Langdon Place and Broadway, currently the site of the 104-year-old Mangrove Feather building.
The proposal calls for Hoberman to buy the lot, just north of the Long Island Rail Road's Lynbrook station, from owner Reuben Maron and knock the building down. The new building would be 50 feet tall, with three stories of parking and two levels accommodating a total of 82 guest rooms.
The meeting, with backup provided by Hoberman's attorney, Bill Bonesso, was tame by comparison to the opposition voiced the night before. "I don't envy Browning," said Hoberman. "His project is far more complex and a far bigger project. My project is self-contained, [and] I am not looking to use village property. It is strictly private property."
In contrast to the Hilton Homewood Suites, the project Hoberman is proposing would not have kitchens, large meeting rooms or banquet halls. According to Hoberman, an accountant, there would be a small space for a retail operation on the ground level, and nothing more than continental breakfast would be provided, delivered from an off-premises company.
"This is not going to happen overnight," Hoberman assured residents. "I want to work with the village and the community."
A Hewlett resident who grew up in Valley Stream, Hoberman would build under the company name "47 Street Properties, LLC" and said he thinks the project is "appropriate." He told residents that he noticed the For Sale sign on the old building while driving home from dinner one evening, and thought it would make economic sense to build a hotel there.
"What distinguishes us from the Marriott is that we are not downtown, but next to a train station," he said. "A fair amount of business will come off the train. We feel it is an appropriate location ... and economically viable."
Again taking the lead with comments, Hendrick said, "The residents are really the ones who will decide. If they don't want you, you won't be here."
Members of the audience expressed their concerns with parking, the flow of traffic past the temple next door, and the potential traffic congestion the hotel might bring. "I invite you to sit at Broadway and Langdon Place any day between 7:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m., and again from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.," said resident Susan Wall. "We already have a traffic problem there."
Longtime resident Larry Pazman conceded, "This project is smaller and more appealing. People want what fits this town, and something should be done with that building."
Hoberman said that if the Marriott/Hilton project were approved, "we would not build this, but in my opinion, I think what Lee Browning proposed last night is way too big, and I personally would not want to park in a four-story parking garage."
Hoberman went on to say, "This building is going to be sold, whether I buy it or someone else does. I am certain there are people who, no matter what I say, do not want a hotel, but we wanted to get the information out there."
Both developers provided residents with their phone numbers and e-mail addresses as part of their efforts to address their concerns.
Comments about this story? KBarone@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 Ext. 202
